Cheney officers keep burglary suspect from committing 'suicide by cop'

Training and quick responses likely prevented a burglary suspect and Spokane Police Academy reserve officer graduate from killing himself and possibly taking a pair of Cheney police officers with him.

Valente Abundez-Ramirez, 26, was booked into Spokane County Jail Jan. 12 after he first broke into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment and then tried to remove a pistol from Cheney Officer Chris Oakes’ holster as he and Sgt. Rick Beghtol were retrieving police property from Abundez-Ramirez’s apartment.

Spokane Superior Court arresting documents indicate Abundez-Ramirez broke into his ex-girlfriend’s Ba...