SPOKANE VALLEY -- The Spokane County Sheriff's deputy who shot and killed a Spokane Valley pastor in an officer-involved shooting last week remains on a week-long vacation. But Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich says the deputy will be questioned on Friday.
Pastor Scott Creach was shot and killed by Deputy Brian Hirzel last Wednesday night at Creach's business, The Plant Farm. Hirzel was on routine patrol after a request for increased police presence due to prowlings. Hirzel and Creach engaged in some sort of confrontation, and Creach was shot and killed.
A handgun was found by Creach's side. His family says he got out of bed when he heard a noise outside. Thinking it may have been a prowler, Creach took his gun with him.
Wednesday evening, Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich held a press conference about the deputy and what happened last week Knezovich said Hirzel's first radio traffic on scene that night was a Code 6, meaning the deputy needed immediate assistance. Later on, shots were fired and Hirzel radioed for medics.
Sheriff Knezovich said the deputy is cooperating with investigators. Knezovich said Hirzel agreed to be intereviewed the night of the shooting, but wanted to wait until after his scheduled vacation. The Sheriff said that would not have been his first choice, but is within the deputy's constitutional rights.
"That night he agreed to be interviewed. He did not exercise those rights as of this time. He has agreed to come in and be interviewed. His own request was to wait. He has that right," said Knezovich. "We cannot jeopardize this investigation. If I do anything that looks as if we have done anything to coerce this interview from this deputy, it could taint this investigation. This is the last thing I or this public want."
