VIDEO can be viewed on the Sheriff’s Office YouTube Channel or Facebook Page.
Driver of Suspicious Vehicle Remains Defiant After Short Pursuit
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Deputies used spike strips and less lethal alternatives after a short pursuit to eventually take an uncooperative suspect into custody. After being medically cleared, the suspect was jailed on several charges.
On November 3, 2024, at approximately 7:25 pm, a Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy was patrolling near Pull n Save, 11125 N. Market Street. Due to past criminal activity, including burglaries of the business, he drove his fully marked patrol car down the dead-end road that runs along the north side of the vehicle yard.
The Deputy observed a parked silver GMC Yukon in the cul-de-sac at the end of the road. He parked his patrol car, approached the vehicle, and found the driver, later identified as 55-year-old Kenneth F. Fuller, asleep in the driver’s seat. Fuller was wearing a headband with a headlight positioned on his forehead. He also observed binoculars and multiple cordless/hand tools inside the vehicle. Additionally, a blue and white pipe and an Altoids tin containing a zip-top baggie, commonly associated with illicit drug use, were observed near the center console.
With knowledge of increased burglaries at this location, Fuller wearing a headlamp, the various tools, and the apparent drug paraphernalia observed inside the GMC, the Deputy reasonably believed Fuller was involved in criminal activity and possibly impaired. He requested another Deputy to assist and waited before trying to wake Fuller.
A second Deputy arrived and activated the emergency lights of her fully marked patrol car. A few minutes later, Fuller woke up and looked around. The Deputies told Fuller he was detained and not free to leave. Failing to listen to the Deputies, Fuller started the SUV and began to back up. He was warned not to hit the patrol car positioned behind the Yukon. Apparently able to hear and understand this warning, Fuller put the vehicle in drive, pulled into a field, and turned around to avoid the patrol cars.
The second Deputy grabbed a set of spike stripes and deployed them in front of the GMC to prevent Fuller, suspected of being impaired, from driving away. Fuller stopped and backed up to avoid the spikes, but the Deputy successfully redeployed them as Fuller drove back toward N. Market.
The Deputies quickly caught up to Fuller’s SUV, with the emergency lights and siren activated. Fearing Fuller would go onto Market Street and attempt to flee, risking his safety and the safety of unsuspecting motorists, a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) was attempted, causing the Yukon to spin and hit a curb. Fuller tried to correct for the PIT, which caused the rear of his vehicle to swing back and hit the front of the Deputy’s vehicle, causing damage.
Fuller continued into the main parking lot, and the second Deputy attempted another PIT to stop his escape. Due to the extremely slow speeds, the Yukon began to spin slowly, but Fuller regained control and drove in front of the patrol cars, causing a collision.
Fuller pulled up to the business’s front entrance and stopped. One Deputy pulled up to the rear of the SUV to block any future attempt to flee, and the second Deputy pulled up toward the driver’s side of the SUV. Both Deputies exited their patrol cars, and Fuller was given commands to exit the Yukon and show his hands, but he failed to comply.
Additional Deputies and Spokane Police Officers arrived to assist. Fuller was observed digging around inside the vehicle while ignoring multiple commands.
With Fuller being uncooperative, combined with his erratic behavior, his attempt to flee, and the possibility he may have access to weapons, a plan to break a window and deploy pepper balls inside Fuller’s vehicle was devised. After additional commands and warnings that force would be used if he didn’t comply had no effect, the plan was implemented.
A less-lethal shotgun was utilized to deploy several beanbags to break a window while ensuring Fuller would not be hit. The first attempts did not work due to the number of items packed in the vehicle. During this time, Fuller still did not peacefully surrender. Several volleys of pepper balls were fired into the partially broken window, striking the interior, not Fuller.
After a few minutes, the chemical irritant had the desired effect, and Fuller exited the vehicle. He was successfully detained, advised of his rights, and that he was under arrest. He declined to answer questions and requested an attorney.
Fuller’s vehicle was seized pending a search warrant. A second search warrant was granted to obtain a blood sample from Fuller to be tested later.
With a valid search warrant, Deputies searched Fuller’s SUV, locating and seizing tools, the Altoids tin, approximately 2.2 grams of suspected Fentanyl powder, and several other items.
Fuller was medically evaluated at the hospital and cleared before being booked into the Spokane County Jail for charges of Attempting to Elude, Malicious Mischief 2nd Degree, Resisting/Obstructing, DUI, Making/Possessing Burglary Tools, and Possession of a Controlled Substance.
On November 4, 2024, Fuller appeared in court, where Spokane County Superior Court Commissioner E. Cruz set his total bond at $10,000.
This investigation continues and additional charges are possible.
This Spokane County Sheriff Office news article "VIDEO: Driver of Suspicious Vehicle Remains Defiant After Short Pursuit" was originally found on https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=7