SPOKANE, Wash. — Three deputies who man accused of child rape were justified in their use of force, Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskel determined.
A release from a county spokesperson stated Haskel will not bring up charges against Spokane County deputies Travis West, Josiah Loos and Samuel Turner after they shot and killed suspect Donald Hegel.
According to the release, Hegel pointed a “realistic-looking replica” handgun at deputies during a standoff in Deer Park that took place after he refused to comply during an arrest for failing to appear in court on child rape and molestation charges.
During the standoff, Hegel told Stevens County deputies that he had a gun and repeatedly asked them to shoot him, according to the release. Hegel then barricaded himself in a house as Stevens County deputies called in help from Spokane County.
That was the second time in five years that Hegel had engaged law enforcement in a standoff. Police said Hegel also threatened to shoot law enforcement officers in a
During the March standoff, deputies reportedly tried using “less lethal” force, including less lethal munitions, but to no avail.
SWAT members eventually broke through the front door. Hegel allegedly pointed the replica gun at them and ignored instructions to drop the gun before the three deputies shot him.
According to the release, deputies called in medical help, but Hegel died at the scene shortly after the shooting.
The Spokane Incident Investigative Response Team, made up of law enforcement agencies from across northeast Washington, looked into the three deputies’ use of force, ultimately passing their findings along to Haskel.
The March shooting was part of a number of shootings by police and sheriff’s deputies in Spokane County at the beginning of 2024.
Spokane County Sheriff Local to address community concerns about the series of unrelated incidents just days after Hegel’s death.
At the time, Nowels defended actions by law enforcement officers and highlighted the need for additional mental health resources to avoid violence broadly.
