SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Coroner’s inquests are held in many cities and some states to determine the cause and circumstances around a person’s death, but there hasn’t been an inquest in Spokane County since 1981.
The Spokesman-Review reports that medical examiners in Spokane County have avoided such hearings, and county commissioners have largely steered clear of the issue.
Ernie Creach says he still has many questions about his father’s death and supports the idea of such hearings. His father, Wayne Scott Creach, a 74-year-old pastor and businessman, was shot to death Aug. 25 by a Spokane Valley deputy sheriff. The deputy involved, Brian Hirzel, remains on desk duty until a decision is made about whether the shooting is justified.
Some legislators want to make inquests mandatory in Washington.
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Information from: The Spokesman-Review, http://www.spokesman.com
