April 27, 2011 in News, City

Sheriff’s panels say pastor’s shooting was “reasonable”

• Print
• Email
•  
• Share

A Spokane County deputy’s sheriff’s decision to shoot Pastor Scott Creach last summer was “reasonable,” two departmental reviews have concluded.

“Deputy Brian Hirzel’s use of force in this incident was reasonable based on policies of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office,” the department said, citing its Deadly Force Review Board’s conclusions.

Creach, who lived alongside his commercial nursery in Spokane Valley, reportedly had spotted a sedan in his parking lot during the night of Aug. 25, armed himself with a pistol and went to investigate.

The sedan was an unmarked police car driven by Hirzel, who was in uniform.

As Creach, 74, approached the car, according to investigators, Hirzel identified himself as a police officer and ordered him to drop the pistol. Creach reportedly refused, tucking the gun into the back waistband of his pants instead, and refused orders to get on the ground.

Hirzel told investigators he got out of the unmarked patrol car, and hit Creach in the knee with his nightstick in an effort to force him to the ground. Creach reached for the gun and Hirzel said he shot him in the chest when he saw the butt of the pistol come out.

Creach died at the scene.

In a separate inquiry into the case, the 12-member Spokane County Sheriff’s Citizen Advisory Board concluded that Hirzel “acted in a reasonable manner.”

Earlier this year, Spokane County Prosecutor Steve Tucker declined to file any criminal charges in the case, saying there was no indication of malice in Hirzel’s actions and that Creach had repeatedly refused to obey commands.

Watch for updates to this story as it continues to develop, and for full coverage in Thursday’s edition of The Spokesman-Review