SPOKANE-- Police tracked down a violent repeat offender Saturday who then tried to run over two police officers in a crowded Browne’s Addition parking lot.
On Saturday afternoon members of the Spokane Police Department’s Patrol Anti Crime Team were actively searching for repeat offender Nicholas Gillam. They were aware that Gillam had an active arrest warrant issued by the Department of Corrections. Among other things he had failed to attend his ordered drug treatment. The department had also identified him as a prolific criminal through its Repeat Offender Program.
Gillam was located in the Rousauers parking lot in Browne’s Addition near a vehicle he was known to drive. Officers attempted to box the car in when Gillam jumped in his car. He then tried to drive over two officers who were out on foot and trying to arrest him.
He escaped in the vehicle. The hood of the car he was driving was up at the time and he fled into the Browne’s Addtion neighborhood at a high rate of speed with his view obstructed.
Officers later observed Gillam driving at high speeds and swerving at traffic along Government Way and Trails Rd west of downtown. Gillam blew out the engine on his car and was taken into custody near the intersection of Trails Rd and Old Trails Rd without a struggle.
Nicholas L Gillam, 32, was arrested for two counts of First Degree Assault on the two police officers and for Attempting to Elude a Pursuing Police Vehicle.
Gillam has a lengthy criminal history including 16 felony convictions for crimes including Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Residential Burglary, Domestic Violence Order Violations, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Attempting to Elude Police.
