SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Two Spokane County sheriff’s department reviews have concluded that a deputy acted “in a reasonable manner” when he fatally shot a 74-year-old pastor last summer in Spokane Valley.
The sheriff’s department said Wednesday that both its Deadly Force Review Board and a 12-member Citizen Advisory Board reviewed the Aug. 25 shooting of Pastor Wayne Scott Creach by Deputy Brian Hirzel.
The shooting occurred in the parking lot of Creach’s Spokane Valley nursery business.
Hirzel was in an unmarked squad car when Creach approached him while armed with a handgun the night of the shooting. Hirzel said he struck Creach with a baton after Creach tucked his gun in his waistband but refused commands to get down. Hirzel said he fired after Creach reached back and took hold of the gun.
County Prosecutor Steve Tucker said in January that the facts do not support criminal charges against Hirzel.
