Prosecutor Determines Deputy’s Use Of Force Justified - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

Prosecutor Determines Deputy’s Use Of Force Justified

UPDATED PRESS RELEASE FROM THE SPOKANE INVESTIGATIVE REGIONAL RESPONSE TEAM: The County Prosecutor's Office has reviewed the case of a Spokane County Sheriff's Deputy involved in a deadly shooting at 1309 Skipworth Ct. in Spokane Valley on September 5th of 2012 and has determined no criminal liability in the case. 

Charges will not be filed. The incident was investigated by the Spokane Investigative Regional Response Team (SIRR Team) comprised of the Spokane Police Department, the Spokane County Sheriff's Office and the Washington State Patrol. 

The SIRR Team completed its investigation which was forwarded to the Spokane County Prosecutors Office for review. In Deputy Prosecutor Driscoll's legal analysis he states the suspect, identified as Edward Gover told deputies on scene "that he had a knife and was going to kill Deputy Childress and Deputy Childress was going to have to kill him. Mr. Gover made like he had something in his hand, hid it behind his back, then advanced, described by both deputies as charging, within 5-10 feet of Deputy Childress."  

The incident occurred September 5, 2012 and involved a Spokane County Sheriff's Office deputy response to a domestic violence call in which a female was assaulted. Childress, the responding deputy engaged in a pursuit of the domestic violence suspect, who he believed to be armed.  Shots were fired and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.