Spokane – The inmate who attempted suicide at the Spokane County Jail last week is an associate of Charles Wallace, who shot two Spokane County deputies in June.
Capt. John McGraff identified the inmate as Robert Lee “Bo” Ruth, 43.
Ruth was found unresponsive in his cell Friday morning. Jail staff administered CPR until medics could arrive. Medics were able to find a pulse when they transported him to a hospital.
McGraff said Ruth had a cell mate. The jail is investigating how it happened.
Authorities arrested Ruth on charges of aiding fugitive Charles Wallace, who allegedly opened fire on deputies in June.
Robert Ruth made his is charged with rendering criminal assistance.
Court documents say Robert Ruth helped Wallace after he escaped treatment, and was even with him the shortly before the shooting.
Spokane County Regional Drug Task Force Detectives say Robert Ruth helped hide Charles Wallace after Wallace escaped from a drug treatment facility on June 3rd.
In May, an intruder shot and wounded Ruth in the leg during a home invasion robbery. Investigators said the gunmen broke into his North Spokane home demanding money and motorcycles. When Ruth refused, he said one of the intruders shot him in the hip.
Detectives interviewed Ruth at the hospital, asking him about connections to Wallace.
Court records say Ruth "had obtained quantities of heroin from him in the past year" but Ruth is "currently in the methadone program."
Detectives watched the two men load motorcycles and take them to a store on Newport highway. Detectives say the two parted in separate vehicles.
Not long afterwards, Deputies Matt Spink and Michael Northway pulled over the vehicle Wallace was riding in.
Court documents say Wallace "was believed to be armed and had made statements that he was not going back to jail."
During the traffic stop Wallace "jumped out of the drivers' side rear passenger seat and started shooting at the two deputies."
Officers contacted Ruth trying to find Wallace. Court documents say Ruth initially denied having seen Wallace the day of the shooting, but then later changed his statement.
Ruth was arrested the next day for first degree rendering criminal assistance.
His bond was set at $100,000.
