Four arrested for allegedly squatting in Spokane home, which was partially dismantled

When a Spokane police officer knocked on the door, a man inside asked who was there. But the officer’s answer was no joke.

Four people were arrested Monday for allegedly squatting in a home in the 2000 block of North Howard Street, which belonged to a woman who died in September. Parts of the home had been dismantled and were gone, including the kitchen counters and various fixtures, court documents say.

Matthew D. Hutchison, 35, Samantha L. Reed, 28, Joshua U. Woods, 40, and Sadie A. Hackett, 26, are being held in the Spokane County Jail on charges of residential burglary and malicious mischief.

The arrests followed a series of strange encounters.

On Oct. 8, after a funeral for the woman who owned the home, relatives visited and found the deadbolt on the front door had been changed, according to court documents. They entered through the back door and confronted six people inside, who fled before police arrived.

One squatter was reluctant to leave and pleaded, “Let’s talk about this,” according to court documents.

On Oct. 17, a “renter” called the city’s utilities department asking to change the name on the water bill for the house.

On Oct. 19, an officer found several people at the house and advised them “it was in their best interest” to leave, although Hutchison insisted he had a right to live there, according to court documents.

When an officer knocked on the door Monday evening, Hutchison asked who was there. The officer identified himself, and “Hutchison became quiet and refused to open the door,” according to court documents.

After pushing open the door and arresting the suspects, police discovered numerous pieces of the house had gone missing, including the kitchen counters and faucet, a bathroom sink, a furnace cover and ceiling light fixtures. Each room was littered with garbage and personal belongings.

Court documents show all four suspects have a criminal history. They appeared in Spokane County Superior Court on Tuesday afternoon.