Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
COLFAX — A Pullman man was acquitted June 14 of drive-by shooting charges.
Jamil Fields, 27, of Pullman, was found not guilty by reason of insanity on charges of drive-by shooting, second-degree kidnapping with a firearms enhancement and five counts of second-degree assault
A Whitman County Superior Court found Fields committed fields to Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake for being criminally insane on Tuesday, June 14.
Fields will remain at Eastern State Hospital until the Secretary designates further proceedings of the court for conditional or final discharge.
Whitman County Superior Court found that Fields presents a substantial likelihood of committing criminal acts jeopardizing public safety or security unless kept under further control by the court, records show.
The sentence follows a Feb. 4 not guilty plea by reason of insanity.
Dr. Jonathan M. Ryan evaluated Fields.’
“In my opinion, Mr. Fields lacked the capacity to perceive the wrongfulness of the acts with which he is charged as a result of a mental disorder,” he said in court records.
Fields was also examined by defense psychologist Dr. Alexander Patterson.
“Mr. Fields’ ability to tell right from wrong regarding all seven charges was impaired by a mental disease,” Patterson said, in court records.
Both reports are sealed.
The court determined the defendant could not be placed in a treatment that is less restrictive than a detention center in a state mental hospital. The court also found Fields legally insane at the time he committed the acts alleged against him, records show.
Records show the case stems from a Dec. 22 call when WhitCom dispatched officers for a traffic offense on state Highway 195.
A family of three adults and two small children were northbound from Pullman to Colfax when a white Volkswagen Golf caught up to their van and followed, records show.
As they reached Golden Hills Drive, the Volkswagen crossed over a double solid yellow line in a no-passing zone, records show, noting that after the Volkswagen passed the van, the driver slammed on the brakes and tried to navigate his way around the vehicle.
The family reported the driver, later identified as Fields, turned the Volkswagen towards the family van and nearly hit them, records show.
The family then followed the Volkswagen, records show. Fields sped up and slowed down before speeding off towards state Highway 195.
The family reported that as they reached the highway, they saw the Volkswagen stopped in the middle of the northbound on-ramp of state Highway 195, records show.
The Volkswagen driver began reversing, got close to the van and shot at the family at least four times, records show. the gun was believed to be a semi-automatic handgun.
Deputy Cox arrived at the scene of the shooting and located one 9mm shell casing, records show. Sgt. Michael Jordan could not see any visible damage from bullets.
Local agencies were alerted to the shooting, records show.
After running the plates, police determined the Volkswagen was registered to Janine Ludwig, who had been dating Fields. However, a recent domestic violence call was reported to the residence on Dec. 4.
Subsequently, police were able to detain Ludwig and Fields on Pullman Airport Road, records show. Officers located a handgun in the passenger door compartment, records show. They also found 9 mm Glock magazines on Fields; one magazine was empty.
The bullets in the other magazine were the same type and brand recovered at the shooting scene, records show.
Both Ludwig and Fields were arrested for drive by shooting.
A shotgun was also found in the back seat, partially covered with clothes, records show.
Ludwig and Fields were transported to the Whitman County Jail.
During transportation, Sgt. Jordan reported Fields made unsolicited statements indicating his mental health problems.
Jordan reported Fields allegedly stated he was supposed to take medications, but didn’t, records show.
Whitman County District Court Judge Hart issued a search warrant for the vehicle, records show. An unloaded Glock 9 mm handgun was recovered.
A partially loaded magazine was found next to the handgun.
The unloaded shotgun was recovered from the backseat, records show. It had live shells attached to the buttstock; records show. Shells were found throughout the Volkswagen.
Several powered-on cell phones were also found in the vehicle, records show.
Olivia Harnack is a Journalist at the Whitman County Gazette. Olivia is enrolled at University of Idaho and is majoring in digital film studies. She serves in the United States Army National Guard and is proud to serve Whitman County.
Reader Comments(0)