Suspect taken to hospital after chase

AIRWAY HEIGHTS – One man was arrested and will be charged with attempted murder after firing a gun at a deputy and then leading police on a dangerous car chase.

Robert L. Talley, 53 has been booked into Spokane County Jail and appeared in court Aug. 7.

On August 3, at approximately 12:30 a.m., a Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to assist an Airway Heights Police Officer with an argument call in the 12500 block of W. Sunset Hwy. 

Spokane Regional Emergency Communications advised the call was an open line, and a male and female were heard yelling at each other in the background, with the female at one point saying the male was violent.

As the Airway Heights officer arrived, he advised a black SUV or van was taking off from the scene.  A check of the license plate showed the license plates as reported as stolen. 

The officer lost sight of the vehicle traveling east on Highway 2. 

A deputy located the vehicle at Longhorn BBQ approximately a minute later and set up surveillance. 

The deputy advised a suspect, wearing all black, fled on foot. 

As additional units responded to the original scene to investigate the incident.

Seconds later, the deputy reported the suspect fired a shot at him.

The suspect made his way back to the vehicle where he jumped in and fled east on Highway 2, reaching speeds estimated at 100 miles per hour. 

Assistance was also requested from the Spokane Police Department and Washington State Patrol, as the suspect would eventually start driving the wrong way in the westbound lanes of I-90.

The suspect swerved head-on toward a patrol car. 

The suspect exited I-90 and traveled the wrong way on 2nd Avenue at approximately 50 mph before crashing into a building on the northeast corner of 2nd Avenue and Lincoln.

Multiple patrol units converged on the suspect as he remained inside the vehicle. 

He continued to reach around the vehicle like he was searching for something reports say.

Records show the suspect quickly raised his hand into view with his fingers positioned as if he was holding a handgun, pointing toward officer, deputies and his own head. 

SWAT members, Crisis Negotiators, and additional equipment were called, including drones to help safely observe the suspect’s actions. 

The suspect didn’t respond to requests for his surrender. 

Officers and deputies deployed less-than-lethal irritants into the vehicle, trying to get him to comply. 

After approximately 25 minutes, the suspect surrendered to SWAT Team members and was taken into custody without further incident. 

He was transported to a hospital to be evaluated for substance use.

Later, a check of the vehicle identification number confirmed it was also reported stolen.

The license plates that were displayed on it were also stolen and belonged to a different vehicle.

Due to the multiple investigations, Spokane police and Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Detectives are working together.