Spokane officer injured in fight with suspect

Published 3:34 pm Friday, March 8, 2013

SPOKANE — Spokane police said an officer suffered a broken collar bone in a fight with a car theft suspect who also was injured during his arrest.

Officers tried to stop a car for reckless driving Thursday night when it sped away. They rammed it in a PIT maneuver to force it to stop. The man driving the car and a woman passenger tried to run away.

Police said the man was caught a short distance away and fought with officers who made the arrest. The woman also was arrested.

He’s identified as 29-year-old Casey Gillette. She’s identified as 28-year-old Naomi Stearns. Police said both have theft records and they were in a stolen car.

Gillette was treated for a possible rib injury.