Creach shooting

I remember the moment I became an Ozzie Knezovich fan. It was June 2006. That’s when Knezovich showed Joseph “Cuppa Joe” Mastel and the citizens of Spokane County what being a real leader is all about.

The interview that could explain why a deputy shot and killed a Spokane Valley pastor will come Friday morning – after the deputy returns from a weeklong vacation approved by Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich. Deputy Brian Hirzel left town the day after an Aug. 25 encounter with Wayne Scott Creach at his sprawling nursery business, the Plant Farm, 14208 E. Fourth Ave. Officials have only said that Hirzel and Creach had some sort of “confrontation” that ended when Hirzel shot Creach moments after the shirtless 74-year-old grabbed his pistol and went outside to investigate what he may have thought was a prowler.

Spokane Valley pastor Wayne Scott Creach and his wife had a prearranged system for when the business owner encountered trespassers on the couple’s sprawling nursery and greenhouse complex in Spokane Valley. He’d go outside and shout if there was a problem, at which point she was to call 911, Creach’s son, Alan Creach, said in an interview Tuesday. Imogene Creach followed that script Aug. 25, calling 911 when she heard what she thought were three shots fired. Alan Creach said his mother could see other patrol cars arriving before she hung up the phone.

Hundreds gathered on a crisp Monday morning to grieve the loss of a man whose preaching and gardening left an unforgettable imprint on those who met Wayne Scott Creach. The service at Greenacres Baptist Church, which Creach founded, included only a few mentions of the questions surrounding his death late Wednesday night when he was shot by Spokane County sheriff’s Deputy Brian Hirzel, who is assigned to the Spokane Valley Police Department.

The deputy who fatally shot a Spokane Valley pastor and business owner last week was identified Monday as Brian Hirzel, a two-year veteran of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office who also has held law enforcement positions in Kootenai County and in Southern California. Hirzel, 41, has agreed to meet Thursday with detectives investigating the shooting death of 74-year-old Wayne Scott Creach, Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich confirmed. The investigation is being conducted by the Spokane Police Department.

The Spokane Valley Police officer who fatally shot a pastor and greenhouse owner last week was identified Monday as Deputy Brian Hirzel.

Hundreds gathered today on a crisp summer morning to grieve the loss of a man whose preaching and gardening left an unforgettable imprint on those who met Pastor Wayne Scott Creach.

Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich extended condolences today to the family of slain pastor S. Wayne Creach, who was shot to death Wednesday evening by a Spokane Valley Police officer. Knezovich said he wanted to assure the community that a full and complete investigation will be conducted.

A pastor and widely recognized Spokane Valley businessman, concerned that a prowler was on his property late Wednesday, got out of bed, apparently armed himself with a pistol and headed toward a sedan in the empty parking lot of his popular nursery and greenhouse complex nearby. Moments later, gunfire erupted and W. Scott Creach, 74, collapsed with a fatal bullet wound to his chest after an apparent scuffle.