SIU investigates officer-involved shooting in Kennewick
By Dan Thesman on Saturday, October 16th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
(News release from Kennewick Police Department)
KENNEWICK — Preliminary information shows that on Saturday, Oct. 16, at about 4:06 AM, officers from the Kennewick Police Department received a report from a citizen that they observed a possible DUI driver that was swerving all over the road and had run a red light in the area of West Tenth Avenue and South Edison Street. Officers came into the area a short time later and located the suspect vehicle, a white Jeep Cherokee, and recognized it from incidents that occurred earlier in the day in which it had been involved in a hit-and-run incident and other reckless driving complaints. KPD officers had attempted to stop the vehicle then but it fled from officers and they did not pursue due to the legislation enacted this past July.
As one officer came into the area of West Tenth Avenue and South Edison Street, he located the suspect vehicle which then purposefully rammed his occupied patrol vehicle at least two times. The suspect vehicle then fled and in the next short period of time, rammed another two patrol vehicles and tried to ram into another motorist. It is during this action of ramming patrol vehicles, with KPD officers in or in close proximity to the patrol vehicles, a KPD officer discharged his firearm, striking the driver of the Jeep in an attempt to stop the action of the suspect and to protect the officers from physical harm.
The Jeep fled again but eventually came to a stop on West Tenth Avenue between South Edison Street and South Union Street. Tri-City Regional SWAT was activated as the suspect would not comply with directions given by officers. SWAT officers were able to arrest the suspect without further incident.
The officer that was in the first rammed patrol vehicle was transported by paramedics to a local area hospital with injuries. The suspect, a 33 year old male, was transported to a local area hospital where he is being treated for his injuries.
The multi-agency Special Investigation Unit (SIU) was activated and will conduct the investigation. Per SIU protocols and legislation, the Kennewick Police Department will not be involved in the investigation. Anyone with information related to this incident, please contact SIU investigator Sergeant Marcus Conner, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, at 509-546-3353.
Photo by Kennewick Police Department
