Man accused of assaulting officer in downtown Spokane

May 18, 2020 Updated Mon., May 18, 2020 at 10:38 p.m.

By Chad Sokol chadso@spokesman.com (509) 459-5047

Spokane police say a 54-year-old man assaulted an officer downtown on Sunday afternoon and tried to run away even after he was shocked twice with a Taser and handcuffed.

Kevin L. Hicks was jailed and faces charges of failing to obey an officer, resisting arrest, third-degree assault and third-degree driving with a suspended license.

According to a police news release, a patrol officer watched a driver, later identified as Hicks, stop in the intersection of Second Avenue and Division Street at about 1:40 p.m. Sunday, disregarding a green traffic light.

Police said Hicks blocked the intersection for nearly a minute and let a woman into his car who “appeared to be engaging in prostitution.”

The officer used his loudspeaker to order Hicks to pull over, but Hicks only looked back and yelled at the officer, police said. Hicks then drove about a block away, stopped again in the roadway and yelled at the officer some more, police said.

The officer pursued Hicks with his lights and sirens activated, and a few more blocks away Hicks got out of his car and “appeared to be dropping an item into his car while cranking up the window,” police said. “Hicks was refusing to follow commands and was resisting being detained.”

When the officer grabbed Hicks’ arm, Hicks tried to run away before spinning around and striking the officer on the shoulder, police said. Hicks broke free and dug his hands into his pockets, and the officer grabbed him once more, police said.

Hicks spun around again and repeatedly tried to punch the officer in the chest and grab at the officer’s arms, police said. The officer shot his Taser at Hicks’ chest, but it was ineffective and Hicks assumed “a fighting stance with clenched fists,” police said.

A second Taser attempt also was ineffective. The officer tried to pin Hicks to the patrol car, but he kicked backward at the officer’s legs, striking him in the knee.

Backup arrived, and officers overcame Hicks’ resistance to get him in handcuffs. Police said he tried, unsuccessfully, to run away.

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