SPOKANE VALLEY – A local homeowner took matters into their own hands, holding an intruder at gunpoint until deputies arrived and arrested the suspect Tuesday, Sept. 26.
Adrian I. Hernandez, 37, was arrested in the 7200 block of West 47th Avenue in connection with the home invasion.
He was booked into the Spokane County Jail on a charge of residential burglary. He was also subsequently charged with second-degree burglary for allegedly breaking into El Katif Shriner’s Event Center in Geiger Heights.
Hernandez was later released on his own recognizance on the original charge.
According to Spokane Valley Sheriff’s Office reports, the ordeal began when an unknown man, later identified as Hernandez, casually walked into the Spokane Valley home without knocking or obtaining permission, records show.
Inside the residence, a startled homeowner immediately summoned her husband, records show. A tense standoff ensued as the husband confronted Hernandez, brandished a handgun and instructed him to lie on the ground with his hands behind his back.
Hernandez complied as deputies responded, records show.
The homeowner later recounted that he had been alerted by his wife’s frantic shouts and had immediately armed himself with a pistol, records show. He brandished the weapon and ordered Hernandez to surrender upon entering the living room, when he found Hernandez in close proximity to his wife.
Fearing for their safety, the husband told his wife to get a shotgun, records show.
Hernandez’s explanations for his actions shifted throughout the investigation.
He initially claimed he lived nearby and was en route to a store when he encountered an unfamiliar friend, who allegedly directed him towards the residence, records show. He said he followed “the signs and moon” to the house, though he admitted knowing that entering the dwelling was wrong.
He insisted he said “hello” upon entering, records show. However, Hernandez’s story underwent multiple revisions as he conversed with deputies, records show. He alternately claimed he believed the house was abandoned, asserted that a friend resided there and eventually conceded he had no knowledge of the homeowner.
Nobody was injured and the homeowners are not facing charges, records show.
During their investigation, deputies connected Hernandez to the burglary of the El Katif Shriners Center at 7217 W. Westbow Blvd., Geiger Heights.
Deputies interviewing El Katif staff and reviewing video surveillance footage the man who broke into the center was wearing the same clothing Hernandez had on when he was arrested, records show, noting the home invasion occurred about 20 minutes after the El Katif burglary.
Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.
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