Deadly force investigation into Thurston County deputy concludes following June shooting

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) on Tuesday announced its completion of the deadly force investigation that began following an officer-involved shooting on June 4 in Yelm.

The sheriff’s office said it presented the investigation to the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review on Tuesday, alongside “assigned community members and involved agency representatives,” according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.

The Lewis County department led the investigation and was assisted by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol.

According to a previous LCSO news release, Thurston County fire personnel responded to a fire in the 18300 block of 149th Lane SE in Yelm at about 8:46 a.m. June 4.

Law enforcement responded at the fire department’s request “due to prior incidents at the address.”

“At about 9:06 a.m. a Thurston County Sheriff’s Office deputy arrived and walked from his vehicle to the fire where he located a person spraying water on the fire with a garden hose,” the release said. “The deputy attempted to get the person to step back so the fire department could work on extinguishing the fire. He did not comply and the deputy eventually told him if he did not comply, he would be detained in handcuffs. This escalated when the suspect drew a firearm and pointed it at the deputy before being shot several times by the deputy.”

Law enforcement detained the suspect.

“He was then treated and transported by aid to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries,” the release said.

The suspect, Joseph Kochanowski, 68, was released from the hospital on June 9 and booked into the Thurston County Jail for alleged first-degree assault.