Suspected Impaired Driver Kicks and Damages Door of Patrol Car
A Spokane Valley Deputy, investigating a suspicious vehicle call, arrested a suspected impaired driver on E. Broadway Avenue. Later, the suspect became extremely belligerent, irate, and verbally abusive and, although handcuffed, began kicking the rear window/door of the marked patrol car. The suspect was placed in restraints to prevent him from injuring himself or causing additional damage to the patrol vehicle, which had to be removed from service for repairs.
On November 21, 2024, at approximately 3:25 am, Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a suspicious vehicle call in the 9800 block of E. Broadway Avenue. The caller said a white sedan was in front of her residence, and the driver kept revving the engine and might be stuck.
Spokane Regional Emergency Communications (SREC) Dispatcher advised Deputies that a different caller reported a possible hit-and-run collision involving a white sedan a short distance away in the 400 block of N. Willow Road.
Deputies arrived on Broadway and observed a white sedan parked diagonally in a driveway, partially blocking the eastbound lane. The male driver, later identified as 20-year-old Gabriel M. Diaz, struggled to follow commands but was safely detained by Deputies.
Deputies cleared the vehicle to ensure no one else was inside. They observed extensive front-end damage to the sedan, noting that both driver’s side tires were flat and the front tire was shredded. In addition, the driver’s airbag was deployed, and twisted tea cans were on the passenger’s side floor.
Deputies advised Diaz of his rights, and he declined to answer questions or submit to standardized field sobriety evaluations. During the contact, Deputies detected a strong odor of intoxicants emitting from Diaz. They also noted his speech was heavily slurred, his face appeared flush, and his eyes were bloodshot and watery.
With probable cause established, Deputies arrested Diaz for suspicion of DUI. They transported him to the Spokane Valley Precinct to advise him of additional legal information and request a breath sample. Unfortunately, Diaz became very angry, belligerent, and verbally abusive while forcefully kicking the rear passenger’s side door/window of the patrol car.
Deputies removed Diaz, who was still handcuffed, from the back seat and placed him in safety restraints to prevent him from injuring himself, Deputies or further damaging the patrol car. Afterward, Deputies found Diaz had kicked the door with enough force to bend the top portion of the door away from the body. The patrol car was removed from service until it could be repaired.
Due to Diaz’s violent and erratic behavior, a Deputy applied for a search warrant to obtain a blood sample from him for later testing. For his safety, additional Deputies continuously monitored Diaz due to the applied restraints.
With a valid search warrant, a blood sample was collected and later booked into evidence for testing. During this time, Diaz remained uncooperative, continuously screamed, and thrashed about while making nonsensical statements and calling Deputies racial slurs.
Diaz was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Malicious Mischief 2nd Degree, DUI, and Minor in Possession of Alcohol/Liquor.
This Spokane County Sheriff Office news article "Suspected Impaired Driver Kicks and Damages Door of Patrol Car" was originally found on https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=7