Aug. 24 – A Spokane County Sheriff’s Office deputy lost a significant amount of blood when he was stabbed in the neck, but is “doing well” after surgery, the office said in a news release.

Court records identified Nicholas Kauffman, 37, as the deputy who was injured Thursday night while responding to a call about a woman acting erratically in the area south of Deer Park.

Kauffman and another deputy attempted to approach the woman, later identified as 32-year-old Gloria Endress (also known as Engel W. Immer) who is “known to carry pepper spray.” She continued walking down North Dalton Road, ignoring their commands to stop and show her hands, according to court records.

At some point, a decision was made for the second deputy to get into his car and follow Endress while Kauffman continued to follow her on foot.

Endress approached the driver of a white Ford truck and asked for a ride, according to court records. Kauffman realized she had a weapon and he ordered her to drop it as she spun around, pepper-sprayed him and stabbed him in the collarbone area, according to court records. In the documents, it appears Kauffman continued to give her commands after he was injured — a witness reported seeing both deputies deploy their tasers after the confrontation.

Kauffman was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, according to court records.

Endress was arrested on suspicion of first and second degree assault. During her first court appearance Friday, Endress was watched by three deputies who restrained her to a chair because she did not comply before the hearing.

Endress’s bail was set at $250,000 after prosecutors claimed the injury was “inches from being fatal.”

Kauffman began his career with the sheriff’s office in 2019, according to The Spokesman-Review’s records. A Facebook post from the sheriff’s office indicates Kauffman is a Pennsylvania native who has a doctorate and previously taught classes at Gonzaga University.

He will spend time with his family as he recovers, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

“We thank you all for your well wishes, prayers and messages of support for the deputy, his family/friends and all of us,” the press release said.