Prosecutor says deputies acted legally in fatal Colbert shootout

The Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office said Monday that sheriff’s deputies acted legally in the shooting death of Dean Bellamy, who reportedly opened fire on them after a four-hour standoff at his Colbert home.

A news release from the prosecutor’s office said deputies, including members of the SWAT team, did not use deadly force in the March 6 shootout until after Bellamy fired “numerous rounds” from just inside his home, wounding Sgt. Harold Whapeles in the right shoulder. They had previously attempted to disarm Bellamy with “less-lethal” beanbag rounds.

“An autopsy determined that Bellamy died from a single penetrating gunshot wound to the left side of the head,” the release said. That bullet came from Deputy Jason Petrini’s .45 Glock pistol.

The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office previously ruled Bellamy’s death a homicide.

It was the third time the SWAT team had responded to Bellamy’s home on reports of domestic violence. Court documents say he had verbally and physically terrorized his estranged wife and her family. He was a former executive of Spokane-based RiverBank.