Suspect in custody after hourslong standoff with police in north Spokane

An armed suspect was taken into custody after an hourslong standoff with police Wednesday evening in north Spokane.

Derrick G. Bonato, 37, eventually was arrested after pointing an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle at his roommate during an argument in their residence in the 1000 block of East Sanson Avenue, according to a Spokane police news release. Police were called to the area just before 8 p.m., where they spent more than five hours negotiating with Bonato, who had taken several people hostage in the house and refused to come out.

Before police arrived, Bonato and his roommate were arguing in the backyard, when Bonato entered the home and came out holding the rifle, according to court documents. Bonato, who allegedly loaded the rifle with a 30-round magazine, said, “If you think you’re going to come in here and push people around you have another thing coming,” the court documents said.

Another resident told police that Bonato told everyone to “stop leaving the house” and had someone use zip ties to secure the front gate.

A SWAT team and hostage negotiators were called in and spent hours advising Bonato to peacefully exit, but were unable to make contact.

About five and a half hours into the standoff, a female came out of the home and was safely led away by officers, police said. Two males came out of the residence shortly after.

SWAT team members then searched the home and located Bonato inside. He was taken into custody without incident.

Bonato has three prior felony convictions, in addition to violating terms of a domestic violence order. He is facing charges of harassment and unlawful possession of a firearm.

In April 2016, Bonato was a suspect in an altercation at the West Wynn Motel on West Sunset Boulevard, where a man was stabbed and later died of his injuries. Bonato claimed self-defense, saying that he was jumped by at least three men who were waiting for him in a motel room. Bonato didn’t know why they attacked him, he told police.

The following month, the charges were dropped without prejudice because of a lack of evidence, said Spokane Prosecutor Larry Haskell.

“If you don’t have enough evidence to move forward in any case, you don’t want the clock ticking,” he said. “If you have a belief you’re going to get more evidence in the future, you reserve the right to dismiss without prejudice so you can refile.”

Bonato is being held in Spokane County Jail in lieu of a $40,000 bond.