Police arrest man twice Tuesday after alleged assault, attempted assault, burglary

July 23, 2019 Updated Tue., July 23, 2019 at 7:35 p.m.

By Jared Brown jaredb@spokesman.com (509) 459-5135

Spokane police arrested Dennis L. Schultz, 71, twice Tuesday for charges related to an alleged assault and an alleged separate attempted assault.

Police say they contacted Schultz, who they believed to have been intoxicated, at about 10:30 a.m. in a park at Division Street and Lacrosse Avenue, where he allegedly attempted to hit a park employee with a cane. The employee wasn’t struck, but Schultz was arrested on an outstanding warrant for first-degree trespassing.

After he was released from Spokane County Jail, police say Schultz rode the bus to a community center at 4000 N. Cook St. that he was prohibited from entering due to previous trespassing. A caller told dispatchers Schultz was inside the center staring at people while holding a 4-foot rod and that he had ignored requests to leave.

Schultz struck an employee with the rod while officers were en route and before he was disarmed by security, police say. He was arrested for first-degree burglary because he had allegedly trespassed and assaulted someone.

Police say Schultz has prior misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor arrests in at least three states for charges including disorderly conduct, obstructing a law enforcement officer, theft, vandalism and harassment. Schultz has had prior arrest warrants in Spokane County because he failed to appear in court, according to police.

Schultz also has an officer safety alert and is listed as a “caution subject,” which is usually due to threatening statements and/or assaults against law enforcement.

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