Spokane Valley, WA – A 44-year-old man was arrested Saturday after allegedly breaking into a closed bank in Spokane Valley by smashing the front glass door with a flowerpot, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded around 11:40 a.m. on October 4, 2025, to reports of a burglary at a bank in the 500 block of N. Mullan Road. When they arrived, they found the glass door shattered and dirt scattered near the entrance. Spokane Regional Emergency Communications confirmed that an unknown individual had been seen inside through the bank’s security cameras.
Authorities issued multiple warnings for the suspect to surrender, including announcements that a K9 unit might be deployed if he did not comply. After several minutes, the man—identified as Richard N. Brown, 44—allegedly exited the bank and was taken into custody without incident.
Brown told deputies he believed someone was inside the bank and broke the glass door to check on them. Deputies noted he appeared coherent and aware of his surroundings.
The estimated cost of repairing the damage is approximately $5,000, according to a bank representative. Brown was booked into the Spokane County Jail on suspicion of Burglary in the Second Degree and Malicious Mischief in the First Degree, with bond set at $10,000.
