Sheriff releases tapes of dispatches after pastor’s shooting

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office released the 911 and police dispatch tapes Monday documenting Deputy Brian Hirzel’s transmissions surrounding his fatal shooting of Spokane Valley pastor Wayne Scott Creach.

The transcript is largely as Spokane police officials had previously described. Hirzel calls “code 6,” which means he needs help. A few seconds later he says: “I’ve got shots fired, one down, shots fired.” A few seconds after that, Hirzel says: “respond medics,” making the same request a second time before a dispatcher advised that medics were en route.

Hirzel was in full uniform but in an unmarked car the night of Aug. 25 when Creach, who owned the property where Hirzel was parked at 14208 E. Fourth Ave., approached with a gun in one hand and a flashlight in the other. Hirzel said he told Creach repeatedly to drop the gun but that he refused and tucked it into the back waistband of his pants, then refused Hirzel’s orders to lie on the ground.

Spokane County Prosecutor Steve Tucker now has the case and has said he hopes to quickly decide on any potential charges against Hirzel.