SPOKANE, Wash. — A Mexican national will spend the next two decades behind bars for shooting at police officers while trafficking in fentanyl to Spokane.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 36-year-old Israel Garcia pled guilty to discharging a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison on Thursday.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Garcia was driving with a woman and child from Yakima to Spokane in order to deliver 10,000 fentanyl pills. During a traffic stop with Spokane police, Garcia ran from his vehicle and opened fire on officers. One officer was injured but recovered.
SPD returned fire hitting Garcia who also recovered. The Spokane County Prosecutor determined in July 2024 the officers will not face charges.
At the time of his arrest, Garcia was under federal supervision and charged with these crimes. He will be transferred to Spokane County and face state charges.
Garcia was previously convicted of assaulting federal officers in 2015 and sentenced to seven years in prison. He was deported after his sentence but returned to the country unlawfully in 2022.
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