Welfare Check Leads To Domestic Violence Arrest

Welfare Check Leads To Domestic Violence Arrest; Guns and Drugs Recovered At North Spokane Apartment

Ofc. Daniel Strassenberg, PIO

Monday, February 2, 2026 at 9:42 a.m.

On January 29, 2026 at approximately 1:45 p.m., Spokane Police Officers responded to an apartment in the 3200 block of North Smith on a request of a welfare check. 911 was contacted by a family advising their daughter had not been heard from in several days nor was she at work.

Officers arrived on scene and an interview with a neighbor revealed the female officers were there to check on, was heard jumping from the 2nd story apartment window a couple days prior. As officers knocked on the door to the apartment they spoke with a male, Brettly Sanderson. Sanderson advised his girlfriend was inside and they were sick. When told why officers were there, Brettly advised the female's phone had accidentally been broken and she was afraid to tell her family.

Officers were finally able to see the female in the background and eventually were able to have her come outside so she could call her family. Sensing something was off, officers spoke with the female separately as Sanderson continually stood next to her during the initial contact. At that point, officers observed injuries to her face and ear. The female told officers that Sanderson had assaulted her with a clothes hangar and was also bitten. She also advised that there were guns in the residence.

At this point, officers would detain Sanderson inside the apartment. While in the family room area with Sanderson, officers observed items around them that appeared to be drug related. While in handcuffs, Sanderson would lunge towards a nearby table and appeared to quickly swallow something. The investigation would result in multiple charges against Sanderson as a search warrant would locate firearms and drug items in the home.

After being examined at a local hospital for the possible ingestion of drugs, Brettly Sanderson (29) was booked into the Spokane County Jail on the following charges:

• 2nd Degree Assault - DV
• Obstructing Law Enforcement
• Possession of a Controlled Substance
• 4th Degree Assault - DV
• Unlawful Imprisonment - DV
• 1st Degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
• Tampering with Physical Evidence

If you are someone you know is a victim of Domestic Violence, please contact Crime Check at or the YWCA Domestic Violence Helpline at (2255).

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Officer Daniel Strassenberg
509-835-4568
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