Man restrained after stabbing himself, asking deputies to shoot him

A man inside a tent in Spokane Valley reportedly stabbed himself and slit his wrists while demanding that Spokane County deputies shoot him. Instead deputies used pepper spray and held the man down while medics treated his wounds.

Deputies were called to the 18400 block of East Appleway Avenue around 5 p.m. Tuesday and found the man inside a tent with a front screen zipped closed, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release. The man had stabbed himself and was covered in blood. He yelled that deputies were “trigger happy” and repeatedly yelled “shoot me,” the release said.

The man reportedly charged deputies twice when they attempted to open the tent screen. One deputy was able to cut the screen, which caused the man to grab a razor blade and slit his wrists. The man came out of the tent after he was pepper sprayed and had to be restrained while Spokane Valley Fire Department medics treated him, the release said.

The man was taken to a local hospital for treatment.