What started as a quiet evening in a Cheney neighborhood turned terrifying last Tuesday when a silver sedan jumped a curb and chased a child riding a dirt bike down a residential sidewalk, all caught on camera. The juvenile was not hit and was not injured, but neighbors say the video has been hard to shake. Within minutes, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office had an investigation underway, and deputies later arrested a suspect.
Deputies say they tracked the driver to a nearby home
According to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called out around 6:05 p.m. last Tuesday to the 7500 block of S. Fruitvale Road after witnesses reported a silver sedan driving up onto the curb and accelerating toward a child on a dirt bike. Deputies reviewed cellphone video at the scene, identified the vehicle and found it about a mile away in the driveway of a nearby home. They arrested 56-year-old Wendy A. Clemente and booked her into jail on suspicion of attempted first-degree assault, DUI and first-degree criminal trespass. Investigators obtained a warrant for a blood draw and say Clemente resisted arrest, allegedly trying to kick a deputy while officers restrained her, according to the Spokane County Sheriff's Office.
Video shows car mount curb and chase juvenile
Cellphone footage circulating online shows the sedan turning directly into the rider’s path, climbing the sidewalk and then speeding forward as the child races away on the dirt bike. A neighbor recorded the clip and shared it with authorities. The juvenile was not injured, and the video quickly prompted multiple witnesses to contact deputies and turn over additional footage. Roughly 25 minutes after the sidewalk incident, a homeowner in the 10700 block of W. Melville Road told deputies his security camera caught someone trying the door handles at his house, a detail that helped deputies track down the vehicle, as reported by KHQ.
Arrest, arraignment and next steps
Clemente was booked into the Spokane County Jail on the listed charges and appeared in court the next day, where a commissioner ordered her released on her own recognizance. Local reports note that deputies say blood-test results are still pending after obtaining the warrant, and prosecutors have not yet said whether they will formally file charges. The sheriff’s office states that the investigation is ongoing while detectives continue reviewing video and interviewing witnesses, according to FOX 28 Spokane.
What the law says
Under Washington law, assault in the first degree, when charged as an attempt, covers conduct that creates a substantial risk of death or great bodily harm and is classified as a class A felony. The state’s attempt statute makes it a crime to take a substantial step toward committing a felony. Penalties vary depending on the specific charge and circumstances. The relevant statutes appear at RCW 9A.36.011 and RCW 9A.28.020.
Neighbors shaken, deputies ask for tips
Neighbors told reporters they were stunned by how close the car appeared to come to the child and by the speed of the sedan as it rode up over the curb. Authorities say no one was hurt, but they are still combing through the videos and statements. Anyone with additional footage or information is asked to contact the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, per local coverage. The case remains under investigation as detectives work to piece together the full sequence of events.
