Two males have been released after being arrested for a domestic violence incident turned hostage situation in Deer Park. The suspects refused to release four young children.
Spokane County Deputies responded to a domestic violence incident on March 26th, at approximately 8:10pm, in the area on the 500 block of A Street in Deer Park. The unnamed victim reported only an argument but made no mention that a crime had been committed. As deputies investigated the incident, they discovered that the victim’s four young children were being held inside an RV with Colby H. Sellers and his father, Christopher Sellers. The victim initially did not admit this out of fear of Colby Sellers’ threats. Neither of the Sellers’ men is the father of the involved children.
Deputies commanded Colby and Christopher to release the children and peacefully surrender. Both men refused and could be heard yelling that the deputies were trespassing. Colby Sellers opened the door momentarily as he yelled and then went back inside and closed the door. Deputies explained to the suspects that they needed to release the children, or this would be considered a hostage situation, and SWAT would respond.
The SWAT team, Crisis Negotiators, and Air Support Units were called out when the children were not released. SCOPE Incident Response Team (S.I.R.T) also responded to this call to assist with traffic control. A search warrant application was also started. Approximately 25 minutes after the initial commands to release the children were given, one young child was released unharmed and reunited with her mother. The search warrant application was completed and forwarded to a judge for consideration. Approximately 40 minutes after the initial commands to release the children, the remaining three children were released unharmed and reunited with their mother.
The two adult suspects were coaxed into surrendering and were taken into custody without further incident. After the SWAT team cleared the RV to ensure no one else was inside, they returned the scene to Patrol. Deputies served the search warrant and collected firearms from the scene for safekeeping because of the domestic violence arrest. Colby Sellers and Christopher Sellers were transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for four felony counts of Unlawful Imprisonment (4 counts). Colby Sellers was additionally charged with one felony count of Malicious Mischief in the 2nd Degree for Domestic Violence.
On March 27th, both defendants, Colby Sellers, and Christopher Sellers, were released on their own recognizance by Spokane County Superior Court Commissioner John Stine following their court appearance and were released from custody.
Sources:
- Gregory, Corporal Mark. “SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiators Respond to Assist Patrol with a Barricaded DV Suspect who Initially.” Spokane County, Spokane County Sheriff Office, 27 March 2023, Spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=4364. Accessed 29 March 2023.
