By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
An unidentified armed citizen intervened in a violent assault in Spokane, Wash., causing the suspect to flee, but he was subsequently captured by County Sheriff’s deputies and Liberty Lake police officers, according to the Sheriff’s Spokane County Office.
The suspect, identified as William C. Morris, 36, is in a great deal of trouble, which involves being in possession of a stolen car from clear across the state, in King County. He is also being held on charges of first-degree robbery and fourth-degree assault.
The incident began when a man identified only as a good Samaritan, saw a man attacking a woman near an intersection in the Spokane Valley. The Samaritan, who was with his wife and daughter, intervened. The man, later identified as Morris, broke off the attack and jumped into his car, which had been stolen in King County, about 300 miles to the west.
When the suspect drove toward the Samaritan, who was blocking his path, the Samaritan then drew a handgun and fired a shot at the vehicle’s tire, according to KAYU News. At that point, the suspect fled, but was captured a short time later by deputies and city police officers, walking away from the vehicle, which was stopped nearby.
According to the Daily Fly, the May 7 incident happened at mid-morning after Morris and the unidentified female apparently got into an argument and he assaulted her. As it turns out, Morris had given her a ride.
Morris was booked into jail, not only for the assault, but also on a King County warrant for possession of the stolen vehicle, a Kia. He had traveled from Seattle to Spokane in the car, probably along Interstate 90, one of the most heavily-traveled interstate highways in the country.
The account of the incident posted online by the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, the armed citizen told Morris that law enforcement had been summoned to the scene and he could not leave. “Morris did not listen and began launching the car forward. Fearing Morris would not stop and that his life was in danger, he drew his pistol,” the report said.
Under Washington State use-of-force statute, it is lawful to use force:
“Whenever necessarily used by a person arresting one who has committed a felony and delivering him or her to a public officer competent to receive him or her into custody;
“Whenever used by a party about to be injured, or by another lawfully aiding him or her, in preventing or attempting to prevent an offense against his or her person, or a malicious trespass, or other malicious interference with real or personal property lawfully in his or her possession, in case the force is not more than is necessary.”
