COVID-19 positive man who refused to self-isolate after jail stay turns himself in

The Spokane man who exposed six Spokane police officers to COVID-19 and refused orders to self-isolate turned himself in Thursday.

Police arrested Mordecai Cochrane, 21, twice last week on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Jail staff learned after Cochrane’s release that he had tested positive for the virus, sending all Spokane officers who contacted Cochrane and his jail cell roommate into self-quarantine.

Officers tried to find Cochrane on Wednesday after the Spokane County health officer issued an “Emergency Involuntary Detention Order for Purposes of Isolation” but could not locate him.

After turning himself in to the regional health department Thursday, Cochrane agreed to self-quarantine for the remainder of the duration of the isolation as set out by the health department. His self-isolation will end 5 p.m. Friday. The health department released Cochrane to quarantine at home.

Cochrane, who works at a Spokane pasta factory that shutdown due to COVID-19 cases, was driving downtown with no tail lights Monday, according to a news release.

When an officer stopped the car, Cochrane yelled in a slurred voice. The officer and back-up officers arrested Cochrane for driving under the influence. The defendant’s blood alcohol content was over twice the legal limit.

Cochrane also faces two unrelated counts of rape in Boundary County, Idaho.