SPOKANE, WA - Authorities with the Spokane Police Department (SPD) confirmed that a high-speed vehicle pursuit ended in a multi-vehicle crash, leaving seven officers injured and three suspects in custody.
According to ABC News, the crash took place near the intersection of North Oak Street and West Carlisle Avenue. During a press conference, SPD Interim Police Chief Justin Lundgren told reporters that all individuals involved in the crash were taken to a nearby hospital to be evaluated for the injuries sustained during the crash.
Lundgren said that all seven officers are expected to make full recoveries. As of this writing, the conditions of the suspects are still unknown. A K9 that was in the pursuing police vehicle was also transported to an emergency veterinary clinic. The chief said that the dog is expected to make a full recovery.
According to Lundgren, the high-speed pursuit began when police started tracking the suspected vehicle at 1:00 p.m. as authorities were wrapping up an unrelated search warrant. Lundgren said that an officer recognized the suspected vehicle that was allegedly involved in a drive-by shooting that occurred says prior.
Officers initiated a pursuit of that suspected vehicle through a residential neighborhood as it drove at a high-rate of speed. Lundgren said that as the suspected vehicle was attempting to drive through an intersection, it collided with an assisting armored police vehicle, resulting in the crash.
According to the police chief, a pursuing police vehicle also crashed into the suspected vehicle. Lundgren said that a civilian vehicle was approaching behind the armored police vehicle, but thankfully it stopped in time. No one was killed in the vehicle pursuit.
The investigation remains ongoing as police believe that the suspect is connected to a drive-by shooting. Lundgren said in a statement, "This particular incident highlights the challenges our patrol officers are up against every day with the number of shootings they investigate and the behavior of the suspects, not only while committing these violent crimes, but the great lengths they'll go to escape. It puts community at risk."
Mayor Lisa Brown said of the incident, "Several Spokane Police officers were injured today while making an arrest. Any injury is tragic, but I am grateful it did not result in the loss of life. My thoughts are with the officers and their families." Anyone with any information about the recent shootings or that has video footage from the incident is asked to call Crime Check at 509-456-2233.
According to the Spokesman Review, police have responded to sever other shootings in July, including three drive-bys. One drive-by shooting near Emerson Park killed 19-year-old Maria Kapustin. Police responded to the shooting in the early morning hours on July 7th. Kapustin was pronounced dead at the scene and as of this writing, no one has been arrested in connection of her death. A week later, police responded to two more drive-by shootings.
Police said that a group of minors were in the middle of a fight when one teen got into a car and fired a gun. Police arrested one 18-year-old in connection with the incident. Two days prior to that shooting, neighbors reported hearing gunshots around 6:30 a.m. in the area of North Wall Street and West Francis Avenue.
Investigators found bullet holes in a nearby home and attempted to conduct interviews of the people who lived there, but they would not cooperate. Police believe it was a "targeted" drive-by shooting.
According to ABC News, the crash took place near the intersection of North Oak Street and West Carlisle Avenue. During a press conference, SPD Interim Police Chief Justin Lundgren told reporters that all individuals involved in the crash were taken to a nearby hospital to be evaluated for the injuries sustained during the crash.
Lundgren said that all seven officers are expected to make full recoveries. As of this writing, the conditions of the suspects are still unknown. A K9 that was in the pursuing police vehicle was also transported to an emergency veterinary clinic. The chief said that the dog is expected to make a full recovery.
According to Lundgren, the high-speed pursuit began when police started tracking the suspected vehicle at 1:00 p.m. as authorities were wrapping up an unrelated search warrant. Lundgren said that an officer recognized the suspected vehicle that was allegedly involved in a drive-by shooting that occurred says prior.
Officers initiated a pursuit of that suspected vehicle through a residential neighborhood as it drove at a high-rate of speed. Lundgren said that as the suspected vehicle was attempting to drive through an intersection, it collided with an assisting armored police vehicle, resulting in the crash.
According to the police chief, a pursuing police vehicle also crashed into the suspected vehicle. Lundgren said that a civilian vehicle was approaching behind the armored police vehicle, but thankfully it stopped in time. No one was killed in the vehicle pursuit.
The investigation remains ongoing as police believe that the suspect is connected to a drive-by shooting. Lundgren said in a statement, "This particular incident highlights the challenges our patrol officers are up against every day with the number of shootings they investigate and the behavior of the suspects, not only while committing these violent crimes, but the great lengths they'll go to escape. It puts community at risk."
Mayor Lisa Brown said of the incident, "Several Spokane Police officers were injured today while making an arrest. Any injury is tragic, but I am grateful it did not result in the loss of life. My thoughts are with the officers and their families." Anyone with any information about the recent shootings or that has video footage from the incident is asked to call Crime Check at 509-456-2233.
According to the Spokesman Review, police have responded to sever other shootings in July, including three drive-bys. One drive-by shooting near Emerson Park killed 19-year-old Maria Kapustin. Police responded to the shooting in the early morning hours on July 7th. Kapustin was pronounced dead at the scene and as of this writing, no one has been arrested in connection of her death. A week later, police responded to two more drive-by shootings.
Police said that a group of minors were in the middle of a fight when one teen got into a car and fired a gun. Police arrested one 18-year-old in connection with the incident. Two days prior to that shooting, neighbors reported hearing gunshots around 6:30 a.m. in the area of North Wall Street and West Francis Avenue.
Investigators found bullet holes in a nearby home and attempted to conduct interviews of the people who lived there, but they would not cooperate. Police believe it was a "targeted" drive-by shooting.
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Comments
2024-07-21T16:10-0400 | Comment by: Rocco
Very sad to see what is happening here. I remember when drive by shootings and car chases only happened in Los Angeles.