Man wanted in Nevada shot after fleeing Spokane police

A man was shot by police early Monday morning after a short, high-speed chase ended in a crash on Monroe Street in north Spokane.

The incident began about 2:30 a.m. when Spokane patrol officers attempted to pull over a car they believed was used by a man police had been searching for, Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl said in a short news conference at the scene.

The man was wanted in Reno on charges of shooting into a vehicle and being a felon in possession of a firearm, Meidl said.

The car sped away but soon crashed into a tree at Sinto Avenue and Monroe Street, Meidl said.

The driver and passenger fled the car on foot, Meidl said. The passenger remained at large as of 6:30 a.m.

The driver was shot in his arm during the pursuit. Specific details about what led an officer to fire at the driver weren’t immediately released.

“In the process of the officers chasing this person – it was a two-officer car – at least one shot was fired, striking the suspect,” Meidl said.

Police said in a news release that “what appear to be two firearms were located within the scene.”

The driver was released from the hospital and booked into the Spokane County Jail on Monday, said Spokane police spokesman Officer John O’Brien.

Monroe Street was closed between Maxwell and Sharp avenues for much of Monday morning as police investigated the shooting.

Officers involved in the shooting were wearing body cameras, police said in a news release.

The Washington State Patrol is leading the investigation into the shooting. Trooper Jeff Sevigney said more information on the incident likely would be available Wednesday.

An earlier version of this report said Meidl said the man was shot in his torso. Police later said in a news release that Meidl was mistaken; the man was shot in his arm.