Law Enforcement Reports

The following reports were posted Friday, Oct. 31, 2025

EPHRATA POLICE

A domestic disturbance was reported at 12:28 p.m. Tuesday in the 1200 block of D Street S.W. Police were told that a male subject had placed his 28-year-old brother in a choke hold during an argument, then left the residence on foot. Officers later located the suspect in the 1100 block of Basin Street S.W. Ryan McKale Newman, 38, Ephrata, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault (domestic violence) and booked into the Grant County Jail.

A two-vehicle, non-injury collision was reported on Monday at the intersection of Cottage Street and Orchard Avenue S.E. Police said Randahl Howard Lauzier, 48, Ephrata, failed to yield the right-of-way and struck a vehicle driven by Jose A. Ortiz, 42, Ephrata. Officers determined that Lauzier was also wanted on outstanding district court warrants. He was taken into custody and booked into the county jail. The accident involved a 2005 Honda Accord and a 2003 Toyota Corolla, but the driver of each car was not specified.

SOAP LAKE POLICE

At 11:38 a.m. Wednesday, police were informed of juveniles fighting at a location in the 100 block of Soap Lake Way NW in Lakeview Park. Details were not initially available, but the reporting party was later contacted and the incident was under investigation.

Following a traffic stop at 5:02 p.m. Monday on State Route 17 North, Christian Herrera Rodriguez, 24, Quincy, was cited for driving with a suspended license.

A report of suspicious circumstances was received at 10:33 a.m. Monday in the 600 block of South Buttercup Street. The complainant said a former neighbor was dropping off a child at school, but was within 1,000 feet of her and her daughter in violation of a court protection order. The woman provided a written statement and photo of the 33-year-old Soap Lake man at the school in the morning. Police said a report would be submitted to the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office for consideration of charging the man with the alleged violation.

A domestic disturbance was reported at 12:04 a.m. Sunday in the first block of South Division Street. A 20-year-old Soap Lake woman told police that man and woman had been involved in an argument and the male subject allegedly damaged property before leaving in a vehicle. An officer located and questioned the man, then determined there was probable cause of unlawful behavior against the woman. A report will be submitted to the county prosecutor’s office for consideration of a charge of third-degree malicious mischief against the suspect.

A trespassing incident was reported at 5:04 p.m. last Friday, Oct. 24. Police were told that people with vehicles were trespassing at the Soap Lake Sand Dunes. An officer contacted the individuals and advised them to leave. An abandoned vehicle at the location was also towed away.

At 12:13 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, an individual contacted police, saying he had property — multiple bags of marijuana — which belonged to a former roommate. An officer retrieved the marijuana and placed it into property storage until it could be destroyed at a later time.

A disturbance was reported at 6:51 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, in the 400 block of South Ginkgo Street. The complainant said she was afraid to go into the Soap Lake Elementary School because a woman was yelling in the parking lot. An officer contacted the woman, who said she was upset because no one was listening to or willing to help her. The officer provided the woman with resource information for mental health and housing assistance.

GRANT COUNTY SHERIFF

At 8:44 p.m. Wednesday, authorities were told that two subjects in a vehicle in the Quincy area were involved in an argument. A male subject allegedly exited the passenger side of a Honda Pilot SUV, went around to the driver’s side, and was screaming and trying to put his hands on a female occupant. Eduardo De La Cruz Ponce, 34, no town listed, was arrested on suspicion of fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) and driving under the influence. He was booked into the Grant County Jail and later released.

A domestic disturbance was reported at 1 p.m. Wednesday at an unspecified location. The complainant said a female subject whom he had been seeing was refusing to leave, then allegedly cut him with a pair of scissors and threw a potato at him. Deputies responded and arrested Erin Kylee Torres, 37, no town listed, on suspicion of attempted first-degree assault and second-degree assault (domestic violence). Torres was booked into the county jail.

A report of suspicious circumstances was received at 7:41 p.m. Sunday in the 1200 block of Adair Street NE in the Larson housing area near Moses Lake. The reporting party said a “young person” dressed in black clothing came to the door, displayed “a bunch of money,” and asked for a ride to Royal City. The complainant said no and shut the down, then notified authorities. The individual was not located.

The following police reports were posted Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025:
EPHRATA POLICE

A domestic disturbance was reported at 7:14 p.m. Wednesday in the first block of G Street N.E. Authorities were told that a female subject was acting in an erratic manner and allegedly attacking her 45-year-old boyfriend. The woman, identified as 49-year-old Mary E. Meyer, was initially transported to Columbia Basin Hospital for an evaluation, then booked into the Grant County Jail on suspicion of fourth-degree assault (domestic violence), and later released.

Shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a theft complaint in the 1300 block of Nat Washington Way. Officers were told that a male subject had shoplifted merchandise from the Ephrata Walmart after previously being banned from the store. Sebastian Lee Ramirez, 27, Ephrata, was arrested on suspicion of third-degree theft and second-degree burglary. After being taken into custody, officers allegedly found Ramirez in possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl) and drug paraphernalia and also determined he was wanted on an out-of-county warrant for failure to appear. Ramirez was booked into the county jail.

A disturbance was reported at 2:34 a.m. Tuesday in an alleyway in the 400 block of Basin Street S.W. Officers contacted a man who was attempting to change the ball on a vehicle trailer hitch. It was determined the man did not have a valid driver’s license. He was advised not to drive and to keep the noise down.

A report of suspicious circumstances was received at 2:18 a.m. Tuesday at the intersection of State Route 282 and Dodson Road/A Street S.E. Police were told that a male subject wearing a trench coat was observed inside the intersection roundabout. Officers contacted the man, who said he was trying to upright a traffic sign that had been knocked over by an unknown motorist. The man was advised to stay out of the roundabout and the state Department of Transportation was notified about the sign.

A domestic dispute was reported at 4:54 p.m. Tuesday in the 100 block of E Street N.E. Police were told that a male subject shoved his 35-year-old girlfriend while she was trying to leave the residence during an argument. Marc Bryan Sass, 39, Ephrata, was arrested on suspicion of fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) and booked into the county jail.

A theft complaint was received at 2:04 p.m. Sunday in the 1300 block of Nat Washington Way. Police were told a man had attempted to shoplift merchandise at the Ephrata Walmart. Officers arrested Hu Carroll Anderson, 38, Tacoma, on suspicion of third-degree theft. Anderson, who allegedly confessed to thefts on two other occasions at the store, was booked into the county jail.

SOAP LAKE POLICE

A noise complaint was received at 9:20 p.m. Monday at a house on Third Avenue N.E. An officer located the residence where loud music was heard and asked an occupant to turn the music off.

A disturbance involving people yelling was reported at 3:31 p.m. Monday near the intersection of West Main Avenue and North Fir Street. An officer contacted individuals and determined it was a verbal domestic dispute. The parties separated upon the officer’s arrival.

A disturbance was reported at 12:04 p.m. Monday. A Moses Lake woman told authorities that a verbal altercation occurred near a tavern in the 300 block of East Main Avenue. Officers contacted a male subject in connection with the incident and determined he was wanted for failure to appear on an outstanding district court warrant. Christopher G. Newman, 50, Ephrata, was taken into custody and booked into the Grant County Jail.

The following individuals were cited for driving with suspended licenses following traffic stops at various locations over the past week: Leora Guery, 43, Moses Lake; Eulises Garibay, 26, Soap Lake; Anika Wren, 21, Moses Lake.

GRANT COUNTY SHERIFF

At 10:39 p.m. Wednesday, authorities were notified of an alleged assault in the 10000 block of Maple Drive NE near Moses Lake. Deputies contacted a male subject who said his son tried to attack him with a knife after hitting him with a pipe wrench an hour earlier. The suspect, 30-year-old Adolfo Chavez Moses, was arrested on suspicion of attempted first-degree assault (domestic violence), second-degree assault (domestic violence), resisting arrest, and obstructing a law enforcement officer. He was booked into the Grant County Jail.

A disturbance was reported at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday in the 5300 block of Road 5-NE near Moses Lake. The female complainant said a male subject was in her vehicle, fighting, and would not get out. Responding deputies described the suspect as highly intoxicated, alleged that he grabbed the woman twice by her hands and arms, and purportedly claimed he “knew how to kill people.” Ronald Ted Schick, 78, Moses Lake, was arrested on suspicion of fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) and booked into the county jail.

A pet theft was reported at 4:40 p.m. Tuesday in the 8900 block of Travis Drive NE near Moses Lake. The complainant said her cat, Garfield, went missing a few days earlier and she posted information on Facebook about the feline’s whereabouts. The complainant received an online message from a person named “Tracy” who claimed she had seen Garfield at a neighbor’s house. But “Tracy” refused to provide additional information unless the complainant paid her $60 and promised not to tell the neighbor how she learned of the cat’s location. A responding deputy was unable to identify either Tracy or the neighbor and advised the complainant it was likely a scam message.

A report of malicious mischief was received at 6:22 p.m. Sunday in the 3700 block of Road 7-NW, south of Ephrata. The complainant said she and her husband returned home after an absence and found bullet holes in two front windows of their home. The damage was estimated at $2,000. The complainant was not sure whether the windows may have been shot by hunters in the area, or possibly by a person against whom she had previously filed a court order.

The following reports were posted Friday, Oct. 17, 2025
EPHRATA POLICE

A domestic disturbance was reported at 7:04 a.m. today in the 200 block of E Street N.E. Officers were told that a male subject had broken a window at the home of a female acquaintance, then assaulted her. Antonio Tavera Corona, 37, Ephrata, was arrested on suspicion of fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) and third-degree malicious mischief (domestic violence). When taken into custody, police also allegedly found Corona in possession of illegal drug paraphenalia. He was booked into the Grant County Jail.

At 6:33 p.m. Thursday, police arrested a 16-year-old Ephrata girl on suspicion of second-degree theft. The teen was accused of stealing a bank card and was transported to the police department by a family member. She was then transferred to the Chelan County juvenile detention center.

At 10:43 a.m. Wednesday, police located two subjects in the 300 block of Sixth Avenue S.E. who were wanted on outstanding district court warrants. Edwin Lopez, 34, Quincy, and Brandy Kane, 47, listed as transient, were taken into custody and booked into the county jail.

At 3:25 a.m. Wednesday, police located a male subject on South Basin Street who was wanted on three outstanding district court warrants. Nicholas Arthur Brown, 41, Ephrata, was taken into custody and booked into the county jail.

SOAP LAKE POLICE
A report of unusual circumstances was received at 11:01 a.m. Wednesday in the 100 block of Second Avenue S.E. Police were told that a woman was observed sleeping on a bench at the Soap Lake Community and Senior Center. An officer contacted the woman, who said she was taking her belongings to the bus stop but was feeling emotional and stopped there to cry. The woman advised she would be moving along.

A report of unusual circumstances was received at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at a location on Fourth Avenue S.E. The complainant said he and a crew were working when an aerial drone began hovering over them. The drone was followed to a residence where a male subject was contacted. The man advised he was trying to get the attention of the complainant’s neighbor. An officer told the man that he was alarming people and he should consider getting a license for the drone.

While on patrol at 8:08 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, an officer observed vehicle with no license plates traveling on State Route 28. When the officer moved behind the vehicle, the driver allegedly sped up, then turned onto Road A-NW and entered the Wagon Wheel trailer park at a high rate of speed. The male driver was seen going inside a residence but was later taken into custody. Jonathan Pray, 26, Soap Lake, was arrested on suspicion of driving with a suspended license, resisting arrest and outstanding court warrants. He was booked into the Grant County Jail.

A report of suspicious circumstances was received at 6:24 p.m. last Thursday, Oct. 9, in the vicinity of the Soap Lake Elementary School on South Ginkgo Street. Police were told that a male subject wearing black pants and carrying a bag was screaming that people were going to die. An officer searched the area but did not locate the individual.

GRANT COUNTY SHERIFF
A report of suspicious circumstances was received at 8:15 p.m. Tuesday. Authorities were told that a male subject was starting a fire in the sagebrush near the intersection of Stratford Road and Road 10-NE, north of Moses Lake. Deputies and firefighters responded to the area and found the man, who had already extinguished a small controlled fire but admitted to starting it to warm up because he was cold. The man was given a courtesy ride into Moses Lake because he was cold.

A disturbance was reported at 11:38 a.m. Tuesday in the 1000 block of Road L.4-SE, south of Moses Lake. Authorities were told that a male subject assaulted another individual at a warehouse/self-storage facility. Howard Glen Bailey, 69, was taken into custody on suspicion of assault and booked into the Grant County Jail. On Sunday at 10:33 a.m., Bailey had called authorities, alleging he had been pushed by an individual at the facility. No arrests were made at that time.

A disturbance was reported at 1:47 p.m. Monday in the 24000 block of Road U.3-SW near Mattawa. The complainant told authorities that a male family member was breaking into another family member’s vehicle without permission. A responding deputy said the vehicle showed signs of extensive damage to the driver’s door and an ignition switch. The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Rafael Bartolo Acosta of Mattawa, was located in a nearby field and arrested on suspicion of second-degree vehicle prowl, second-degree malicious mischief, and violation of a court protection order. He was booked into the county jail.

The following reports were posted Monday, Oct. 13, 2025:
EPHRATA POLICE

At 6:01 p.m. Sunday, police were notified of a theft of services in the 1800 block of South Basin Street. A male subject staying at the Best Western motel allegedly stayed for two nights after only paying for one night. Police contacted the man’s son, who said he would contact the motel and settle the bill.

A cold theft was reported at 5:01 p.m. Sunday in the 300 block of Basin Street S.W. Police were informed that an unknown suspect shoplifted a bottle of wine on Friday from the Center 76 convenience store.

While on patrol at 10:30 p.m. Friday, an officer conducted a traffic stop on Airport Street S.E. near the intersection of State Route 282 after observing a vehicle with expired license tabs and lane travel violations. Omar Lira Elizalde, 24, Quincy, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and booked into the Grant County Jail.

A theft was reported at 11:41 a.m. Friday at a residence on Seventh Avenue N.E. The complainant said her doorbell camera recorded a female subject stealing several packages from the front porch overnight.

SOAP LAKE POLICE

At 8:08 a.m. Saturday, police conducted a traffic stop in the 17000 block of Road A-NW. Jonathan Thomas Pray, 26, Soap Lake, was arrested on suspicion of driving with a suspended license, resisting arrest, and outstanding court warrants on original charges of hit-and-run (attended property damage). He was booked into the Grant County Jail.

GRANT COUNTY SHERIFF

At 11:25 a.m. Sunday, a domestic assault was reported in the 1000 block of Vandenberg Loop NE near Moses Lake. The reporting party said a male subject grabbed a female acquaintance, pulled her down, and punched her in the face. Authorities were also told the suspect allegedly had a firearm but it was not pointed at anyone or used in the incident. Deputies responded and arrested Paul Alan Megard, 40, Ephrata, on suspicion of fourth-degree assault (domestic violence), obstructing a law enforcement officer, and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. He was booked into the Grant County Jail.

An assault was reported at 9:30 p.m. Saturday in the 8100 block of State Route 262, west of Warden. The complainant said he was having dinner and a beer at an area diner when an unknown male began choking him and saying he wanted to kill him. The alleged victim said he had trouble breathing for about 45 seconds and thought he was going to die, the report stated. Deputies responded and searched the area, but did not locate a suspect.

While on patrol at 7:45 p.m. Saturday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on State Route 243 near Mattawa after observing a motorist committing lane travel violations. Salbador Guadarrama Mundo, 44, Quincy, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license, making false or misleading statements to police, and an outstanding misdemeanor court warrant. He was booked into the county jail.

A weapons violation was reported at 3 p.m. Friday on westbound Interstate 90 near Moses Lake. Authorities were told that someone in a white Mazda CX-5 had fired gunshots at another motorist. When contacted, the reporting party was described as uncooperative and did not provide a license plate number. Deputies and Moses Lake police searched the area but did not locate the suspect vehicle.

The following reports were posted Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025:

GC man jailed on firearm charges, threats to kill
GRAND COULEE – An 18-year-old Grand Coulee man faces multiple felony charges after he allegedly pointed a handgun at several acquaintances and threatened to kill them early Monday morning.

No shots were fired and no one was hurt in the incidents, but several alleged victims said they feared for their lives during the confrontations, according to Grand Coulee police.

The incidents were initially reported around 12:30 a.m. at a residence in the 200 block of Burdin Avenue. The suspect, Talan J. Goggles Obendorf, was later located by police and booked into the Grant County Jail.

Multiple agencies, including the Grant County Sheriff’s Office and Soap Lake police, responded.

Obendorf has been charged in Grant County Superior Court with three counts of first-degree assault with a firearm or deadly weapon, two counts of felony harassment/threats to kill, and carrying or handling a weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm. Obendorf was also charged with first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm because of a juvenile felony conviction for attempted second-degree assault.

During a preliminary court appearance Tuesday, Judge Melissa Chlarson set Obendorf’s bail at $50,000 and ordered him to have no contact with the alleged victims pending formal arraignment on Oct. 22.

 Driver killed in collision with truck

MOSES LAKE — A Newport, Wash. man was killed Thursday afternoon when his car struck the side of a truck that failed to stop at an intersection three miles east of Moses Lake, reported the Washington State Patrol.

Joseph I. Rammell, 77, was driving north of Road O-NE when his 2020 Volkswagen Passat collided with the side of a 2007 Freightliner conventional truck driven by 62-year-old Jose A. Martinez, who entered the intersection without stopping from exit 182 of westbound Interstate 90.

Rammell, who was not wearing a seatbelt, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, said troopers.

Martinez, whose town of residence was unknown, was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured in the wreck, which was reported at 2:25 p.m.

Both vehicles received reportable damage and the Volkswagen was towed from the scene.

EPHRATA POLICE

A two-vehicle, non-injury collision was reported at 1:55 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of C Street S.W. and West Division Avenue. Police said a 16-year-old Soap Lake girl driving a 2008 Ford Fusion was westbound on Division and failed to yield the right-of-way at the intersection. Her car struck a 2010 Kia Soul driven by Debora A. Wentz, 63, Ephrata, who was southbound on C Street. Both cars sustained reportable damage.

Shortly before 6 a.m. Monday, police responded to a domestic disturbance reported in the 1800 block of Basin Street S.W. Officers contacted a man and woman who allegedly had been verbally arguing but there was not evidence of a physical confrontation. However, it was determined that the couple had outstanding court warrants on prior alcohol-related violations. Alyx Kylee Rodriguez, 35, Quincy, and Marc Bryan Sass, 39, Ephrata, were taken into custody and booked into the Grant County Jail.

SOAP LAKE POLICE

A theft was reported at 1:06 p.m. Wednesday from Binger’s Shell convenience store in the first block of South Daisy Street. Police were told that a female subject had paid for two bags of ice, but took seven bags and then left in a vehicle. A license plate number was obtained and an officer called the car’s registered owner – who was also the suspect – but received no answer. The loss was estimated at $10.

While on patrol around 1 a.m. Tuesday, an officer conducted a traffic stop on State Route 17 north of Soap Lake after observing a vehicle with no front license plate. The driver, 44-year-old Sergey P. Didok of Soap Lake, was cited for driving with a suspended license and taken into custody on an outstanding court warrant for failure to appear on an original charge of third-degree theft. Didok was booked in the Grant County Jail and later released. Didok was also cited for DWLS following a traffic stop around 7 a.m. Sunday near the intersection of Canna Street and Sixth Avenue S.W.

At 10:26 p.m. Saturday, police responded to a public service request in the 100 block of North Fern Street. The reporting party said a baby had inadvertently been locked into a parked vehicle with the engine running. An officer was able to unlock the vehicle and determined the baby was okay.

An unwanted person was reported at 7:43 p.m. last Friday, Oct. 3, in the 300 block of East Main Avenue. Police were told that a male subject was on the property of the Del Red Pub after previously being banned from the premises. Christopher Newman, 50, Ephrata, was cited on suspicion of second-degree criminal trespass.

Police received a report at 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1, of a public nuisance at a location on West Main Avenue. Police were told that a male subject was working on cars using bright stadium lights for illumination. An officer contacted the man and told him not to do such activities late at night.

The following individuals were cited for driving with suspended licenses following traffic stops at various locations over the past week: Jonathan Pray, 26, Soap Lake; Aaron Razey, 24, Moses Lake; Lacie Upshaw, 35, Coulee City; Keaton Adams, 35, Soap Lake.

GRANT COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

A domestic assault was reported at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 10000 block of Road P.5-SE near Warden. Authorities were told that a couple were arguing when the man allegedly bit his female acquaintance on the arm, punched her in the face above her left eye, then used a kitchen knife to pop an air mattress that the woman used for a bed. Deputies responded to the location and arrested Ivan Hernandez Mendoza, 26, Warden, on suspicion of fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) and third-degree malicious mischief (domestic violence). Mendoza was booked into the Grant County Jail.

A domestic disturbance was reported at around 8 p.m. Wednesday in the 20000 block of Cherry Road NW near Soap Lake. The reporting party told authorities that she returned home from work when a roommate grabbed her by the shirt and yelled at her. However, responding deputies said the complainant shoved the roomate with both hands, causing that person to fall backward and hit a music speaker, causing back pain. Leslie Guerra, 34, Soap Lake, was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of fourth-degree assault (domestic violence). Soap Lake police also responded to the scene.

Shortly before 10 a.m. Tuesday, deputies responded to a harassment report in the 4200 block of Airway Drive NE near Moses Lake. Authorities were told a male subject was repeatedly calling a female acquaintance in violation of a court-issued no-contact order. The suspect, 25-year-old Tristan Lee Elliott of Moses Lake, was located and taken into custody without incident for the alleged violation and booked into jail.

The following reports were posted Monday, Oct. 6, 2025:
EPHRATA POLICE

On Sunday, police arrested a male subject, identified as 30-year-old Jairo Alexander Carias Banegas, no town listed, on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, possession or use of drug paraphernalia, and an outstanding Grant County District Court warrant. Banegas was booked into the Grant County Jail.

A report of suspicious circumstances was received at 4:20 a.m. Sunday in the 500 block of Basin Street N.W. Police were told that a male subject dressed in street clothes had been observed inside a fitness gym earlier that morning, but displayed a key fob for entry into the facility. The man was later found sleeping on a couch in the building. When told that police would be notified, the man pushed past the reporting party and fled on foot from the premises.

A disturbance was reported at 1:45 a.m. Sunday in the 100 block of First Avenue N.W. Police were told that a female subject was attempting to fight others in a tavern. When told to leave, the woman pushed the reporting party and left the property. An officer later located the woman, who refused to provide her full name, and was told that she was banned from the premises.

Ephrata police assisted the Grant County Sheriff’s Office by responding to a 911 hangup call reported at 11:11 p.m. Saturday in the 7700 block of Road 10-NW. Responding officers said a woman locked a man out of the house following an argument and the man broke a window to get back inside the residence. The information was relayed to sheriff’s deputies.

A one-vehicle accident was reported at 9:20 p.m. at the intersection of Airport Street and Lockheed Avenue near the Ephrata Airport. Police said Evelyn P. Martinez, 37, Moses Lake, failed to negotiate a curve in the road and her Jeep Patriot SUV went off the roadway and came to rest in a field. A passenger in the vehicle sustained minor injuries.

A disturbance was reported at 2:10 a.m. Saturday in the 200 block of E Street N.E. The complainant said a male acquaintance was under the influence of drugs when he came to her residence and accused her of infidelity. The man then threw a large rock through her bedroom window, stole her bicycle, and fled. Officers were not immediately able to locate the subject who is wanted on a charge of third-degree malicious mischief (domestic violence).

Police assisted the Ephrata Fire Department at 5:31 p.m. Friday by responding to a report of a male subject setting fires in a field near the Ephrata Walmart store on Nat Washington Way. Officers contacted the man, who said he was trying to clean up the area by burning trash. Police said the man was in a location that appeared to be a campsite. The man was advised he could not camp there or start fires.

GRANT COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

At 11:10 p.m. Sunday, deputies located a wanted subject in the vicinity of Roads R-NE and 4-NE near Moses Lake. Utilizing warnings with a K9 dog, the suspect – identified as 58-year-old Jesse Jay Oliver of Moses Lake – was taken into custody on an outstanding superior court warrant for failure to appear on original charges of second-degree assault and resisting arrest. Oliver was booked into the Grant County Jail.

At 1:37 p.m. Sunday, authorities were told that a female subject in a white Honda Civic exhibited slurred speech and was “nodding off” in the car. A deputy located the vehicle in the 5000 block of Airway Drive NE near Moses Lake. When questioned, the woman allegedly admitted smoking methamphetamine earlier. Avery Lewis, 37, Bellingham was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and was booked into the county jail.

Grant County sheriff’s deputies were informed Saturday by authorities in Kootenai County, Idaho that a wanted subject was living in the Crescent Bar area west of Quincy. Deputies located the suspect, identified as 55-year-old Bradley Arthur Plate, who was taken into custody on an extraditable felony warrant for first- and second-degree stalking, video voyeurism, and providing false information to a law enforcement officer. Plate was booked into the county jail for transfer to Idaho authorities.

The following reports were posted Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025:
EPHRATA POLICE

A fraud report was received at 1:51 p.m. Wednesday from a rural Ephrata resident on Road A-NW. The woman said a person on Facebook Marketplace had persuaded her to allow access to her personal bank account. She was later contacted by bank officials who recognized a fraud attempt and temporarily froze her account. Police provided the woman with information regarding protection against identity theft.

At 7:51 a.m. Wednesday, police responded to a report of a woman walking in and out of traffic in the 700 block of Basin Street N.W. An officer contacted the woman, who allegedly ignored another officer’s prior warning to stay out of the roadway and nearly caused a collision. Jody L. Przespolewski, 33, no town listed, was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct. She was booked into the Grant County Jail and later released.

A two-vehicle, non-injury collision was reported at 11:50 a.m. Tuesday on North Basin Street/State Route 28. Police said Tomas B. Dircio, 56, Ephrata, was driving south and slowed for traffic when his 2020 Dodge Ram pickup was struck in the rear by a 2014 Subaru Impreza driven by Machado Rodriguez Felcito, 22, Soap Lake. Both vehicles sustained reportable damage.

A domestic disturbance was reported at 6:53 p.m. Monday in the 200 block of D Street S.E. Authorities were told that a female subject, described as intoxicated, was throwing objects and hitting a male family member. Officers arrested Shania Rae Gomez, 29, Ephrata, on suspicion of fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) and third-degree malicious mischief (domestic violence). She was booked into the county jail.

GRANT COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

At 2:33 a.m. Wednesday, deputies conducted a traffic stop at an unspecified location after observing a silver passenger car without license plates. Two individuals were subsequently detained on suspicion of drugs charges. Josette Marie Horton, 54, and Todd Stephen Whitney, 45, no towns listed, were booked into the Grant County Jail on charges of possession, manufacture, or delivery of a controlled substance. The incident remains under investigation.

A domestic disturbance was reported at 6:13 p.m. Tuesday in the 3000 block of Westshore Drive NE near Moses Lake. The reporting party said he is the primary caregiver for a female family member who allegedly slapped him in the back of the head. The man told responding deputies that the slap hurt, but he did not require medical attention. Sheila C. Kubat, 67, Moses Lake, was arrested on suspicion of fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) and booked into the county jail.

A domestic disturbance was reported at 5:55 p.m. Tuesday on Largent Street NE near Coulee City. Authorities were told that an upset male subject pointed a handgun at a female family member and four other individuals who were helping her move out of the residence. No gunshots were fired and no one was hurt, according to the report. Deputies arrested Gerald Cameron Holcomb, 70, Coulee City, on four counts of first-degree assault and one count of first-degree assault (domestic violence). Holcomb was booked into the county jail.

At 2:50 p.m. Tuesday, deputies and Ephrata police responded to a rural residence in the 3000 block of Road 9-NW. The complainant said another woman arrived at the residence and began assaulting her, including pulling the complainant off a porch. Several other individuals witnessed the altercation, according to the sheriff’s report. The alleged victim sustained scrapes and bruises on her face and legs, but declined medical treatment. Deputies arrested Kimberly Sue Vessio Phillips, 36, Moses Lake, on suspicion of fourth-degree assault and booked her into the county jail.

A domestic disturbance was reported at 12:50 p.m. Tuesday in the 8000 block of Road K.3-NE near Moses Lake. The complainant said he was punched in the face by a female family member in an argument over money. The alleged suspect later contacted authorities from a different location and admitted to punching the family member. Deputies arrested Molly Ann Stockman, 35, Ephrata, for fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) and booked her into the county jail.

At 12:18 a.m. Tuesday, a deputy conducted a routine traffic stop on Road A-NE and the North Frontage Road near Moses Lake. During the stop, the deputy allegedly observed a firearm in the driver’s waistband. A subsequent background check revealed that the driver – identified as 30-year-old Daniel Natividad Gazca – was a convicted felon. Gazca was taken into custody for first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and booked into the county jail.

A domestic disturbance was reported at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the 1000 block of Vandenburg Loop NE near Moses Lake. Authorities were told that several individuals were yelling and a male subject was attempting to get a female family member back into a house when she allegedly hit him in the chest twice with her hand. Jennifer Danielle Garibay, 34, was arrested on suspicion of fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) and booked into the county jail.