The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
56°F
Current Conditions
Clear sky
View complete weather report

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

Downtown rooftop standoff leads to arrest of domestic violence suspect

Christopher Smith, 28, a robbery suspect who was wanted for violation of a protection order, scrambles up the fire escape ladder on the Genesee Building on Riverside Avenue as police, left, encourage him to surrender. Smith had climbed the neighboring building, the site of 24 Taps Burgers and Brews, as he fled the police. He eventually surrendered (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review)
Christopher Smith, 28, a robbery suspect who was wanted for violation of a protection order, scrambles up the fire escape ladder on the Genesee Building on Riverside Avenue as police, left, encourage him to surrender. Smith had climbed the neighboring building, the site of 24 Taps Burgers and Brews, as he fled the police. He eventually surrendered (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review)Buy a print of this photo
By Adam Shanks adams@spokesman.com(509) 459-5136

Spokane police arrested a man accused of domestic violence Wednesday after a brief standoff on the rooftop of a downtown business.

Christopher D. Smith, 28, allegedly robbed the woman he had been ordered to stay away from and led police on a chase that brought a SWAT team and police dogs to Riverside Avenue on Wednesday.

He was taken into custody unharmed and booked into Spokane County Jail, according to a statement released by Spokane Police on Wednesday.

Christopher Smith, 28, a robbery suspect who was wanted for violation of a protection order, scrambles up the fire escape ladder on the Genesee Building on Riverside Avenue as police, left, encourage him to surrender. Smith had climbed the neighboring building, the site of 24 Taps Burgers and Brews, as he fled the police. He eventually surrendered (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review)
Christopher Smith, 28, a robbery suspect who was wanted for violation of a protection order, scrambles up the fire escape ladder on the Genesee Building on Riverside Avenue as police, left, encourage him to surrender. Smith had climbed the neighboring building, the site of 24 Taps Burgers and Brews, as he fled the police. He eventually surrendered (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review)Buy a print of this photo

Officers were first called shortly after 9 a.m. to Second Avenue, where Smith was reported to have been arguing with a woman who had a protection order against him. Smith had left the area by the time police arrived.

At about 9:30 a.m., police were called to a robbery at the corner of North Monroe Street and Sprague Avenue. The suspect – later determined to be Smith – and a person who appeared in surveillance footage to be the same victim had already left the scene, but police were told by witnesses that Smith had attempted to steal a woman’s purse.

While reviewing the security footage, an officer spotted Smith walking through the same area. The officer gave chase, but Smith scurried up a ladder and onto the rooftops of buildings on the 800 block of Riverside Avenue.

Nearby roads were closed as police expanded their response to include hostage negotiators, a K-9 unit and a SWAT team.

Police said Smith initially refused to come down from the roof of 24 Taps Burgers and Brews, a restaurant on the corner of Lincoln Street and Riverside Avenue.

The Spokane Fire Department responded with a ladder truck to lift officers onto the roof. Police eventually took Smith into custody without incident.

Prior to his arrest on Monday, Smith was wanted by police on allegations of domestic violence-related arson, burglary, residential burglary and multiple violations of a no-contact order.

“Christopher’s behavior had been escalating over the past few weeks, culminating in today’s incident downtown,” Officer Joshua Laiva, a department spokesman, said in a statement.

Smith was booked into Spokane County Jail and held on $2,000 bail on Wednesday. He faces 11 charges, including arson, two counts of residential burglary, multiple violations of a protection order, second-degree robbery and obstructing a police officer.

Police cited the incident as a demonstration of the dangers of domestic violence and pointed victims to community resources available online at endtheviolencespokane.org.