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Deputies’ identities released in officer-involved shooting at Spokane Valley Motel 6

Investigators gather at the front entrance after fire burned through the roof of the Motel 6 in Spokane Valley early Wednesday, June 7, 2017. A man was reportedly shot by Spokane County sheriffs deputies after he barricaded himself into a room and refused to evacuate. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)
By Jonathan Glover jonathanglover22@gmail.com

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office has released the names of the deputies who shot a knife-wielding man who refused to leave a burning Motel 6 last week.

Deputies Nathan Booth, Jeff Getchell, Tyler Kullman and Spenser Rassier fired multiple shots at 41-year-old Michael Kruse after he allegedly started a fire in his room at the Spokane Valley motel at 1919 N. Hutchinson Road about 3:30 a.m. on June 7 and refused to leave.

Kruse apparently came out of his room while armed with a knife and advanced toward deputies. The four deputies fired, wounding Kruse.

Kruse remains hospitalized at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. He faces a charge of first-degree arson.

Booth began his career at the sheriff’s office in November 2014 and was selected as a member of the SWAT Team in May 2016, according to a sheriff’s office news release. Getchell is a 16-year veteran and has received multiple awards and recognition from citizens.

Kullman has been with the office for six years, some with his K-9 partner Khan on the SWAT Team. Kullman is also an instructor for the Patrol Tactics and Reality Based Training program and previously taught defensive tactics, the news release states.

Rassier started working at the sheriff’s office in June 2015 and was accepted onto the SWAT Team in May 2016, according to the release.

None of the deputies has been identified as being involved in past shootings, according to a search of The Spokesman-Review’s archives.

The Washington State Patrol is heading up an investigation into the shooting by the Spokane Investigative Regional Response Team. It then will be forwarded to the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office for review.