Washington Man Shot Dead During Fight With Bail Bondsman

Square earrings?

Cringemax

SAD

I can’t believe that it’s 2026 and people still don’t know how to film correctly

OH YEAH, JUSTICE IS SERVED

wtf

What would Dog The Bounterhunter do. Pour out a beer for the homie.

November 2023 - The Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office will not pursue charges against a bail bondsman who shot and killed a handcuffed suspect on a north Spokane street during a struggle.

A neighbor recorded a video of the violent Sept. 2 encounter that shows Christopher S. Smith, 42, attempting to grab the gun as bondsman Rodger N. Betschart, the owner of Ace’s Bail Bonds in Spokane, points it at him.

During the 60-second video, Betschart fires the gun into Smith’s torso multiple times as the two men fight near the intersection of Montgomery Avenue and Astor Street.

Smith’s family has posted the video online, set up a memorial and said he didn’t deserve to die.

Police and prosecutors said their investigation involved elements of Betschart using self-defense.

Just before the shooting, Betschart had handcuffed Smith for jumping bail on a residential burglary charge. That’s when a woman identified by Smith’s family as his girlfriend, Jennifer Aamold, pepper-sprayed Betschart.

The bondsman, who is then lying on the ground, fires his gun at the girlfriend as she runs away, the video shows. He misses.

Smith is then seen standing handcuffed above Betschart, who gets on his hands and knees. The video shows Smith apparently kicking the bondsman, who then rolls over onto his back and points his gun at Smith.

The two appear in the video, taken from about a half-block away, to be fighting for control of the gun when it goes off and strikes Smith, who then falls off of Betschart to the street. Betschart then gets up as Smith is writhing in the road. The two continue to fight until Betschart fires more bullets into Smith’s torso. Betschart took his final shot while kneeling over Smith, firing into Smith’s back as he was turning away.

Bailey Springer, who took the video and later shared it with Smith’s family and police, said on that day he heard something outside and ran to his window to observe. He saw Smith and Betschart wrestling. Springer said “the man put him in an arm-bar to put cuffs on” as Smith screamed for help.

Springer said he watched as Smith’s girlfriend came out and pepper-sprayed Betschart. At this point, Smith had both of his arms handcuffed in front of his body, he said. That’s when the video begins.

In the footage, Aamold is seen running toward the Astor Terrace apartments as a cloud of pepper spray hangs in the air. Betschart, who appears to be lying on the ground, points the gun toward her, and a shot is heard. Court documents specify that a bullet hole was also found in the front door of the apartment she lived in.

“It could’ve went differently,” Springer said of the incident. “He didn’t have to pull out his pistol.”

Court documents say Betschart attempted to use a stun gun on Smith at first, but a physical fight ensued, followed by the shooting.

A witness told police she heard Smith tell Betschart: “I am done, boss,” and “Help me, brother,” followed by two loud pops.

Great effort, but it wasn't quite enough.

WTF

Oh, great. He forfeited his bond.

It's ok, he voted for Kamala.

At least the bondsman knows he'll be getting his money back

Whose going to bail him out of hell now

wanted dead or alive