Preacher's son accuses deputy of murder

SPOKANE — New information about the fatal shooting of a Spokane Valley pastor and nursery owner is leading his son to accuse a sheriff's deputy of murder.

Alan Creach said his father, Southern Baptist pastor Wayne Scott Creach, 74, had complied with a Spokane County deputy's command to back away from a patrol car when he was shot once in the chest.

"I'm not a lawyer, but it really bothered me incredibly to hear how my father was murdered," Alan Creach said after police held a news conference Tuesday to reveal details of the Aug. 25 shooting.

According to statements that Deputy Brian Hirzel gave to investigators for the Spokane Police Department, Creach approached the deputy in the darkness and refused demands to drop the gun he had taken with him to check on a suspected prowler.

Creach did put the gun in the waistband of his pants but then refused an order to get on the ground.

Investigators said Hirzel struck Creach in the knee with his baton to knock him down, then fired when he saw Creach reaching for the gun.

At no time did Creach aim his weapon at Hirzel, according to Spokane police Lt. Dave McGovern.

Also Tuesday, Spokane Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said she hoped the case will be handed over to the Spokane County Prosecutor's Office for possible charges by early next week.

Alan Creach said Tuesday that his father was killed defending his freedom.

"My dad didn't understand what that deputy was doing out there," he said. "I don't believe it's written in the Constitution that when a deputy approaches you have to put your gun down."

McGovern said Hirzel, 41, parked just after 11 p.m. at Creach's Spokane Valley nursery business at the request of a neighbor who called for officers to check on prowling activity in the area.

Hirzel, a deputy assigned to work for the Spokane Valley Police Department, was parked in the business' parking lot in his unmarked Ford Crown Victoria with the driver's side window down. He was typing up tickets on his dashboard-mounted computer when he noticed a light to his left and saw Creach approaching with the gun.

Kirkpatrick said Hirzel's statement "raises new questions," she said. "Now we have to go back and do more investigation. You just can't close this because he gave a statement."