SPOKANE, WA – A 39-year-old man was arrested early Tuesday morning after fleeing Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies and violating a domestic violence protection order.
At approximately 3:25 a.m. on May 27, 2025, deputies responded to a welfare check in the area of West Wedgewood and North Stevens Street. The report involved a possible violation of a court-issued Domestic Violence No Contact Order by Zachary J. Hawthorne, who was reportedly near the protected person’s home and driving a black Acura.
Deputies were familiar with Hawthorne and noted he was a convicted felon with an active felony warrant from the Washington State Department of Corrections. He had also made recent threats of self-harm and posted a photo of himself with a firearm. The protection order prohibited him from contacting the protected person or being within 1,000 feet of their residence.
Around 3:50 a.m., a deputy saw the Acura within the restricted area. Another deputy attempted a traffic stop near North Whitehouse Street and West Francis Avenue. Hawthorne allegedly fled, reaching speeds of 80 mph in a 35 mph zone. The pursuit was terminated due to safety concerns.
Deputies established probable cause to arrest Hawthorne for felony eluding and violation of the protection order. At approximately 4:45 a.m., an alert from an Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) indicated the suspect vehicle was traveling west on Bigelow Gulch Road. A deputy deployed spike strips on Francis Avenue near Market Street, successfully deflating the Acura’s tires.
Hawthorne was located walking near the vehicle in a parking lot in the 2700 block of East Francis Avenue. When confronted by deputies, he initially attempted to walk away. Due to his history and officer safety concerns, deputies gave commands at gunpoint. Hawthorne ultimately complied and was taken into custody without further incident.
After transport to the Spokane County Jail, Hawthorne allegedly contacted the protected person by phone, resulting in an additional violation.
He was booked on multiple felony charges, including Attempting to Elude a Law Enforcement Vehicle, two counts of Violation of a Court Order, Residential Burglary, and his outstanding DOC warrant.
