Team completes investigation into fatal Colbert shootout; injured deputy still recovering

The Spokane Investigative Regional Response Team has completed its investigation of a shootout that injured a sheriff’s deputy and killed a former bank executive at his Colbert home on March 6.

The SIRR team of several local law enforcement agencies has forwarded its findings to the Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review. The Spokane Police Department, the lead agency in the team’s investigation, made the announcement Friday.

The shootout happened after a four-hour standoff at the home of Dean Bellamy. Authorities said he opened fire on members of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, striking one of the team’s leaders, Sgt. Harold Whapeles.

Deputies returned fire and Bellamy died of a gunshot wound to the head. The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled his death a homicide.

It was the third time the SWAT team had responded to Bellamy’s home on reports of domestic violence. Court documents say he had verbally and physically terrorized his estranged wife and her family.

Whapeles, a 16-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, underwent surgery to remove a bullet from his shoulder and is recovering at home, sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Mark Gregory said Friday.