Posted on 06/19/2012 7:13:58 PM PDT by jazusamo
As police closed in on a suspect in the shooting of two Spokane County sheriff’s deputies today, the suspect fired repeatedly at pursuing cars, then shot himself in Deer Park at U.S. Highway 395 and Crawford Road.
The deputies, described as seasoned law enforcement veterans, are in stable condition at Sacred Heart Medical Center, where one has had surgery for his wounds.
“My deputies are OK,” Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said this evening.
Police do not believe any other shooters remain at large tonight, and there is no danger to the public, Spokane Police Chief Scott Stephens added in a press conference at 6:45 p.m.
The suspect is Charles R. Wallace, 41, who was indicted just a month ago on federal charges connected to a heroin distribution ring that authorities allege supplied at least 100 grams of the drug.
Following his arrest on heroin trafficking charges, Wallace was allowed to leave jail May 31 under release conditions approved by U.S. Magistrate Judge Cynthia Imbrogno, according to federal court records.
It’s unclear whether Imbrogno required any bail be posted for Wallace’s release. A hand-written note in the court’s directions to U.S. marshals show only that Wallace was released to “an agent of ABHS.”
After the deputies were shot this afternoon, Wallace led police on a high-speed chase on U.S. Highway 2, racing northbound in the southbound lanes. He then headed west on East Deer Park Milan Road, which turns into West Crawford Street in Deer Park.
The suspect was driving at a high rate of speed and shooting at pursuing officers in Deer Park.
Lori Musgrave saw the final moments of the police chase as the fleeing suspect raced past her Farmers Market and Bakery at Crawford Road.
The driver’s head was hanging out the window, a gun pointed out as well, she said. “The car was flying, just absolutely, down the road,” Musgrave said. Police were in pursuit. “I just told my staff to run.”
As the suspect attempted to turn onto Highway 395, he hit a guardrail and spun out. As police closed in on the vehicle, the suspect shot and killed himself, officials said.
Moments later Musgrave heard a gunshot, though the car was no longer visible, and pieced together later that it likely was the fatal shot.
The incident began in North Spokane around 4:18 p.m. when the deputies, who patrol the north county area, pulled over a Chevy Suburban for reckless driving at Newport Highway and East Elm Street, about a half mile north of the North Division Y.
Within 10 to 12 seconds the deputies were fired on, and both were hit, said Sgt. Dave Reagan of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.
One deputy may have returned fire, Reagan said. A third officer arrived moments later and called in the Code 99, for officer down.
Eyewitnesses said they heard about 10 gunshots, then saw the deputies on the ground. Paramedics arrived minutes later, and the deputies were rushed to the hospital.
“The deputies were doing what they do best: stopping someone they believe might be a problem,” Reagan said.
Reagan added, “We have not had the opportunity to talk to them other than to comfort them and ask them if there was any evidence we should be looking for.”
One of the deputies may have recognized one of the people in the suspect’s vehicle, Reagan said. He wasn’t sure how many people were in the vehicle.
The suspects fled the scene of the shooting and abandoned the Suburban at North Division Street and East Graves Road, a few blocks west.
Minutes later at least one suspect carjacked a 2002 Honda Accord from an older female driver in the vicinity, Reagan said.
“It’s been a running crime scene basically since the moment the shots were fired,” Reagan said.
Wallace in 2002 was arrested after escaping for Geiger Correctional Center. As of that year, Wallace’s criminal record included 25 adult convictions for drugs, burglary, theft, forgery, assault, driving under the influence and attempting to elude police.
The Spokane Police Department is in charge of the shooting investigation, assisted by the Washington State Patrol.
The incident is eerily reminiscent of a shooting spree and chase in 1991, which ended with two people dead and five injured, four of whom were law enforcement officers.
Like Tuesday’s shooting, the 1991 incident began with a routine traffic stop. A Stevens County officer radioed for help, saying he had been shot during a pursuit, according to Spokesman-Review archives.
A high-speed chase ensued through Stevens and north Spokane counties.
Three men were involved in the chase, two of whom were involved in an earlier bank robbery, archives say.
All four police officers shot in 1991 survived.
Thanks, you confirmed what most of us suspected.
Sounds like a whole commode load.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.