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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Hours-long hostage negotiation in Spokane Valley leads to safe arrest of suspect, no injuries to hostage

From staff reports

Spokane Valley Deputies’ response to a warrant for a suspect wanted on a drug trafficking charge in Coeur d’Alene led to an hours-long hostage negotiation Wednesday evening.

At about 11 p.m. Wednesday, deputies contacted 23-year-old Zachary D. Edinger, who was staying in an apartment in the 13300 block of East Mission in Spokane Valley, according to a sheriff’s office news release. Edinger was wanted on the drug-trafficking warrant, in addition to two local misdemeanor warrants for his arrest.

When deputies knocked on the door and began speaking to Edinger, they learned there was an adult female inside, who they asked to exit, the release sates. They did not receive a reply. Deputies learned from neighbors that Edinger was known to keep firearms in the apartment.

SWAT and a sheriff’s hostage negotiation team were requested while deputies applied for a search warrant and continued to try and convince Edinger to exit the apartment, according to the release.

Information was received a short time later that Edinger was holding the female against her will and would not allow her leave the apartment, the release states.

Negotiators made phone contact with Edinger and eventually convinced him to release the female and surrender, the release states. Three hours after deputies were originally called to the apartment, the female was released and Edinger was successfully taken into custody without injury.

Edinger was booked into Spokane County Jail for unlawful imprisonment, resisting arrest, and for the misdemeanor warrants. He is also being held on a fugitive charge for the Idaho warrant.