Police arrest man after chase

A man wanted on a domestic violence assault charge led police on a car chase and foot pursuit this morning before having to be rescued from a creek bank. Paul Reinhardt, 40, was arrested for second-degree assault and could face additional charges of attempt to elude and obstruction of justice, said Spokane police Officer Devin Presta. The incident began about 7:10 a.m. when the Spokane Valley Police Department responded to 15500 E. Wellesley Ave. on a domestic situation where a man was reportedly in violation of a restraining order, Presta said. Police on scene were unable to locate Reinhardt, whom Spokane police later spotted at 20th Avenue and Inland Empire Way driving a white Subaru. Reinhardt then led police in a car chase. When he was blocked in a cul-de-sac, he fled on foot and eventually went into Latah Creek, Presta said. A Burlington Northern Sante Fe crew working in the area saw Reinhardt hiding and pointed him out to police officers. As police yelled at him to come out, Reinhardt failed to respond, Presta said. “Reinhardt apparently had a medical issue that did not allow him to walk out of the location,” Presta said. “Due to the isolated area, Spokane City Fire Department was called in to hoist him up off of the river bank.” The rescue took about two hours, police said. Reinhardt was lifted out on a gurney about noon.