Deputies Responding to Welfare Check Greeted by Male Pointing a Gun
Spokane Valley Deputies responded to the welfare check of a male, possibly in crisis, at a residence near E. 3rd Avenue and S. Bradley Road. As they, in full uniform, approached the residence, they observed a male open the front door, pointing a gun at them. They quickly moved to a cover, announced themselves as Deputies, told him to drop the weapon, and requested emergency assistance. After several hours, with the help of SWAT, Crisis Negotiators, Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Operators, EDU, and other assets, the male was safely taken into custody.
On March 13, 2025, at approximately 3:15 am, Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a welfare check at a residence in the 6900 block of E. 3rd Avenue. The caller reported his neighbor, identified as 31-year-old Austyn S. Howard, was outside his own home, screaming, making loud noises, and appeared to be beating on his house. He believed Howard had mental health issues and was possibly in crisis.
When Deputies, in full uniform, arrived, they approached Howard’s home. Suddenly, Howard opened the front door and, in a shooting stance, pointed a gun at them. Deputies quickly took cover, told Howard to drop the weapon, identified themselves as Deputies, and called for emergency assistance.
As they waited for additional assistance, Howard was observed poking his head out of a small window. Again, they advised him they were Deputies and told him not to point a weapon at them. They also activated the emergency lights of a marked patrol car to further identify themselves as law enforcement.
Instead of complying, Howard was observed pointing the barrel of the weapon multiple times out a window. One Deputy observed Howard appear to work the action of a weapon, which sounded like the slide of a shotgun being manipulated. He pointed it out of the window again, saying, “Boom (expletive)! Boom!” and retreated into the residence.
As additional assistance, including the SWAT Team, Crisis Negotiators, and UAS Operators, arrived, a perimeter was established, and a search warrant was requested. Multiple PA announcements advising Howard to surrender were ineffective.
Deputies and Crisis Negotiators spoke with Howard and tried to coax him into peacefully surrendering but were unsuccessful. Howard told them he ingested rat poison and tried to shoot at cops. He also said he wanted officers to shoot him.
With a valid search warrant and with Howard’s continual choice to not follow commands and surrender, SWAT breached the door, with UAS Operators providing real-time visual information. Howard remained defiant, throwing knives and kitchen utensils toward SWAT vehicles and cameras. At one point, Howard even tried to position a refrigerator in an attempt to block the SWAT Team. Chemical irritants were deployed into the residence.
Thankfully, at approximately 6:35 am, the chemical irritants appeared to have the desired effect, and Howard began to follow commands. The SWAT Team safely took him into custody.
During a search of the residence, Investigators recovered and seized a realistic-looking BB rifle and a replica gun with a slide action.
Howard was transported to the hospital to be medically cleared. This investigation continues and Howard is expected to be booked into the Spokane County Jail later today.
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This Spokane County Sheriff Office news article "Deputies Responding to Welfare Check Greeted by Male Pointing a Gun" was originally found on https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=7