Spokane Police officer’s use of force justified in September shooting

Spokane police Officer Tucker Seitz was justified in shooting Antonio Davis in September, according to the Spokane County prosecutor’s office.

Davis, 25, was shot in the arm after police say he charged toward Seitz with his hand in his waistband area. Davis was treated at a local hospital before being booked into jail on suspicion of unlawful possession of a firearm and attempting to elude police.

Davis was also wanted on warrants from Reno for felony possession of a firearm, discharging a firearm into a vehicle and assault with bodily harm.

On Sept. 18 around 2:30 a.m., Seitz and Officer Chris McMurtrey spotted Davis driving in north Spokane and attempted to pull him over. Davis fled, but crashed his car on Sinto Avenue just west of Monroe.

Officers advised Davis to show his hands and get on the ground, according to police, but Davis ignored their commands and charged toward Seitz “with his right hand concealed in his front waistband area,” police said.

“Under these circumstances, it was reasonable for Officer Seitz to use deadly force,” the Spokane Prosecutor’s Office said in a news release. “Davis presented a serious and immediate threat to Officer Seitz and McMurtrey as he charged at Seitz. There is no indication Officer Seitz acted out of malice or lacked a good faith belief in the correctness of his actions.”