Information on officer-involved shooting slated for release today

MOSES LAKE — More information is scheduled to be released this afternoon about an incident Friday night that left a man dead and a police dog injured in Moses Lake.

The incident occurred about 10:43 p.m. Friday, according to a press release issued Saturday by Moses Lake Police Chief Kevin Fuhr. The man, the dog and the dog’s handler have not been identified.

The dog was flown to the veterinary unit at Washington State University and, as of Sunday night, “continues to make progress,” according to a social media post from the Moses Lake Police Department.

“Street crimes detectives and patrol officers were searching for a male suspect wanted in connection with several recent robberies,” Fuhr wrote.

Officers found the man in his vehicle on Airway Drive and tried to stop him, but he drove away.

“The pursuit lasted several miles along Valley Road, Grape Drive, Oregon Street and back to Valley Road,” Fuhr wrote. “During the pursuit the suspect vehicle ran over a set of spike strips and eventually came to a stop on Denton Road in the Cascade Valley area.”

The man attempted to flee on foot but was pursued by a MLPD K9 unit. “During the foot pursuit the suspect produced a handgun and discharged it once, striking the K9,” Fuhr wrote. “A MLPD officer returned fire, striking the suspect. The suspect was declared deceased at the scene.”

The incident is being investigated by the Central Basin Investigative Team, composed of officers from the Quincy, Ephrata, Moses Lake and Othello police departments, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office and Adams County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the Washington State Patrol and the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The dog was taken to Pioneer Veterinary in Moses Lake for preliminary treatment before being airlifted to WSU. Tests are scheduled Monday that will help determine a prognosis.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].