Spokane man nearly shoots himself, deputy after high speed chase
Posted: 12:17 am PST February 6,2010Updated: 12:26 am PST February 6,2010
WALLACE, Idaho -- A suicidal Spokane man nearly injured himself and a Shoshone County Sheriff's Deputy with a shotgun blast during a standoff in the middle of Downtown Wallace.
The Shoshone County Sheriff's Office says they were called about a suicidal subject possibly driving east on Interstate-90 near milepost 40.
Shoshone County deputies and U.S. Forest Service officers eventually pulled behind 18-year-old Andrew T. Graves, of Spokane, and his red Ford Mustang heading east on I-90.
Officers tried to keep up with Grave's Ford Mustang, which topped speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. Deputies deployed spike strips and were able to puncture one of the tires on the Mustang, but Graves kept driving.
Just after 4:30 p.m., deputies rammed Grave's car, finally bringing the chase to a stop on Bank Street in Wallace. According to deputies, Graves then picked up a shotgun that was inside the car and put it to his head.
Deputies negotiated with Graves for more than ten minutes before he got of the car, gun still pointed at his head, and began to walk towards the officers. Deputies began yelling at Graves, but he ignored their commands to put the shotgun down.
When he reached a group of officers, a deputy came up behind Graves and grabbed the gun. Deputies say Graves then pulled the trigger, narrowly missing both himself and the deputy.
Officers arrested Graves after a brief struggle, he later had to be taken to Shoshone Medical Center for the treatment of some minor injuries sustained during the arrest. None of the officers were injured.
Graves was booked into the Shoshone County Public Safety Building for one count each of Felony Eluding, Reckless Driving, and Driving Under the Influence.
In total, four agencies assisted in the pursuit and the eventual arrest of Graves. Both the Idaho State Police and Shoshone County Sheriff's Office will continue their investigation into the chase.
Graves was in the news last summer when the then 17-year-old disappeared for days, possibly seeking refuge in the Hayden, Idaho area.








