Burglary Suspect Found Sitting in Chair Drinking Whiskey Arrested in South Spokane

SPOKANE, Wash. — A residential burglary suspect was quickly taken into custody by Spokane Police officers on Thursday morning after he broke into a home, only to be found sitting in a chair drinking a glass of the homeowner's whiskey when police arrived.

The incident began shortly before 8:00 AM in the 600 block of South Ralph Street in South Spokane. A homeowner called 911 to report hearing strange noises inside her house, indicating an active break-in. Fearing for her safety, the woman hid in a closet while remaining on the line with dispatchers to guide arriving officers.

Spokane Police Department officers arrived at the home within minutes of the call. Upon inspection, they discovered that the front door had been forced open. Officers entered the residence to clear the structure and secure the scene. As they swept the home, they located the suspect sitting casually in a chair in a back room, having poured himself a glass of whiskey.

The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Michael A. Luciano, was arrested without incident. Luciano was booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of residential burglary and third-degree malicious mischief. He is also being held on a Department of Corrections detainer.

The homeowner was unharmed during the incident. Police credited her quick thinking in hiding and calling 911, as well as the rapid response of the officers, for preventing a potentially dangerous situation from escalating further.