Bodman identified as deputy in crash

The Spokane Valley Sheriff's deputy involved in Friday's crash with a bicyclist was identified Wednesday as former Post Falls City Council member Joe Bodman.

The juvenile male bicyclist was hospitalized in critical condition, but has since improved to stable, according to the Spokane County Sheriff's Office.

Bodman, who served on the Post Falls City Council from 1998 to 2010, is on paid administrative leave pending the customary investigation.

The accident occurred at the intersection of Sprague and Vista around 10:30 p.m. while Bodman was on duty. At the time of the incident, Bodman was responding to back up another deputy who had stopped a suspect with a domestic violence warrant.

"According to multiple witnesses at the scene, (Bodman) was heading westbound on Sprague and had a green light," a Spokane Investigative Regional Response Team press release states. "The juvenile was headed southbound on the Vista sidewalk and entered the roadway on Sprague."

Bodman began his career as a reserve police officer with Spokane Police in 1985. He was hired in 1989 at the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, where he was a field training officer for four years and a K-9 handler for six.

Bodman transferred to Spokane County in 2002. He was recently selected to be an emergency vehicle operations course instructor.

Bodman, who didn't get re-elected to the Post Falls City Council when he ran last year, has been a Post Falls resident for 27 years. He also has ran for office in law enforcement in recent years, including as an independent against current Kootenai County Sheriff Ben Wolfinger.

Bodman couldn't be reached for comment on Wednesday.