Police investigating after alleged confrontation involving sheriff

A former Spokane County deputy undersheriff said he was chest bumped by Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich earlier this month outside a candidate forum in Northeast Spokane. The incident is under investigation by the Spokane Police Department, a police spokeswoman said. Knezovich denied the accusation, saying Wiyrick jabbed him with his fingers. “It didn’t happen,” he said. Dave Wiyrick, who left the sheriff’s office in 2006, said he and Knezovich exchanged harsh words in the parking lot outside the Oct. 23 forum at the Northeast Community Center after Wiyrick asked a pointed question on public safety funding during the forum. The alleged chest bump followed. David Brookbank, a witness, called police to report the incident as an assault. Wiyrick said he is not acquainted with Brookbank. Wiyrick has contributed to challenger Doug Orr’s campaign to unseat Knezovich. Wiyrick said there’s been bad blood between him and Knezovich since he was the undersheriff and Knezovich’s boss. “Neither one of us like each other,” Wiyrick said.