EWPD officers injured, man hospitalized after disturbance escalates into fight

EAST WENATCHEE — An investigation is underway after an East Wenatchee man and three responding officers were hospitalized following a violent disturbance call on Eastmont Avenue Saturday night.

According to a May 17 press release from the North Central Washington Special Investigations Unit, officers with the East Wenatchee Police Department responded around 8:35 p.m. on May 16 to the 500 block of Eastmont Avenue after a 911 caller reported an unknown disturbance with screaming heard in the background.

Police said the first responding officer encountered several people in the driveway of the residence. When the officer attempted to contact a man involved in the disturbance, the man allegedly did not comply and a physical altercation followed.

The officer called for priority backup, prompting additional response from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. According to the release, officers used physical force and Tasers before the man was taken into custody.

During the incident, the man experienced what authorities described as a medical emergency and was transported by Ballard Ambulance to Confluence Health, where he remained hospitalized as of the release.

The initial responding officer was also transported by ambulance following what the release described as a medical emergency in the aftermath of the fight. Two additional East Wenatchee officers later sought treatment at the emergency department for minor injuries. All three officers were later released.

Per department policy, the involved East Wenatchee officers have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations was contacted because of the severity of the incident but declined to respond, according to the release.

The investigation has since been taken over by the North Central Washington Special Investigations Unit, which said detectives from the Wenatchee Police Department, Chelan County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol will conduct an independent investigation.

Authorities said no additional details would be released at this time.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media