SPOKANE, Wash. — A Mexican national who opened fire on Spokane police officers during a drug trafficking arrest was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
United States Chief District Judge Stanley A. Bastain sentenced Israel Garcia, 36, on Sept. 18 after he pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute, court records show.
In October 2022, Garcia traveled from Yakima to Spokane to deliver 10,000 fentanyl pills, according to court documents. When police approached to arrest him, Garcia fired at officers while attempting to flee.
One bullet nearly struck an officer in the head but was redirected by a car door window, according to prosecutors. The officer suffered head and face injuries.
Officers returned fire, striking Garcia. Passengers in Garcia’s vehicle, including a minor child, were unharmed.
Garcia was previously convicted in 2015 of assault on federal officers, served 84 months in prison, and was deported to Mexico in 2021 before illegally returning, court documents show.
“We have zero tolerance for dangerous offenders like Garcia who pose an immediate threat to our community,” said Pete Serrano, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
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