Law Enforcement Reports
The following law enforcement reports were posted Friday, April 10, 2026:
EPHRATA POLICE
At 6:50 p.m. Thursday, April 9, authorities were notified of a brush fire on a hillside near the Ephrata Sports Complex, west of Hilltop Drive S.E. Police said a 16-year-old boy had started a fire which began growing in size. The boy ran home, notified his parents, then took a shovel back to fight the fire, which was mostly extinguished when officers arrived on scene. The boy was treated for smoke inhalation by emergency medical responders. The incident is under investigation.
A possible hit-and-run incident involving property damage was reported at 3:17 p.m. Thursday, April 9, in an alleyway between the 200 blocks of J and K Streets N.E. The complainant said she heard a loud bang, then lost power to her residence, then heard a vehicle driving away northbound in the alley. Officers identified the driver as 20-year-old Masen J. Smith of Ephrata, who was reportedly distracted by a bee when his 2004 Chevrolet pickup collided with an electrical transformer. A Grant County PUD crew responded to repair the transformer and restore power. No citations were issued.
A disturbance was reported at 3:03 p.m. Thursday, April 9, in the 1300 block of Nat Washington Way. Police were told that three male subjects were posting derogatory posters inside the Ephrata Walmart store and making racist comments to random patrons. When confronted about their conduct, the three males fled the premises. One of the males was identified as a 17-year-old teen. If all are identified, store personnel asked that they be trespassed from the property.
At 12:13 a.m. Wednesday, April 8, police were notified of an erratically driven vehicle in the 800 block of North Basin Street. An officer located the vehicle and made a traffic stop after allegedly observing lane travel violations. The driver, 32-year-old Alejandro Vilchis Maldonado of Soap Lake, was arrested and booked into the Grant County Jail on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
An animal cruelty complaint was received at 1:01 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, in the 700 block of J Street S.E. According to the report, a male subject had hit a dog in the head with a metal object, resulting in a deep laceration that exposed the animal’s skull. Police were told the dog was struck because it was fighting with another dog. The incident was under investigation.
A one-vehicle, non-injury wreck was reported at 8:59 p.m. Monday, April 6, on Airport Street S.E. near the intersection of State Route 282. Police said Daniel A. Villa-Jimenez, 19, Ephrata, was driving a 2003 Honda Civic when he reportedly fell asleep, failed to negotiate a curve, and went off the roadway. Villa-Jimenez was cited for driving with a suspended license.
A theft was reported at 3:03 p.m. Monday, April 6, in the 1000 block of Basin Street S.W. The complainant said his bicycle was stolen around 11 a.m. outside the McDonald’s restaurant. The bike was later recovered in the 1200 block of Cottage Street S.E. The incident was under investigation.
At 2:06 a.m. on Sunday, April 5, police were notified that a shed appeared to be on fire in the back yard of a residence in the 200 block of D Street N.W. Upon arrival, officers found a large, unattended blaze in an outdoor fire pit. The fire was extinguished with a garden hose.
Officers assisted Grant County sheriff’s deputies by responding to a theft reported at 8:37 p.m. on Saturday, April 4, at a trailer park in the 17000 block of State Route 28 West. The complainant said all the light bulbs in his RV had been taken by a known acquaintance. A deputy later contacted the alleged suspect but determined there was not enough evidence to suggest a crime had been committed.
While on patrol at 6:54 p.m. on Saturday, April 4, an officer observed a wanted subject in the 1200 block of Cottage Street S.E. Edwin Lopez, 35, Moses Lake, was arrested on outstanding court warrants and booked into the county jail.
SOAP LAKE POLICE
At 10:25 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, an officer assisted Grant County sheriff’s deputies in responding to a domestic dispute in the 300 block of Road 18.8-NE. Law enforcement contacted a 68-year-old woman who had been arguing with an acquaintance. The two were advised to stay separated for the evening.
A disturbance was reported at 8:53 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, in the 1000 block of South Division Street. Police were told that a male subject described as possibly intoxicated kept returning to the Gas and Go convenience store and attempting to instigate a physical altercation with a clerk. The unidentified man left prior to the arrival of an officer.
A malicious mischief incident was reported at 10:03 a.m. Tuesday, April 7, at the restrooms at Smokiam East Beach Park. Police were told that gang-related graffiti had been painted on a door.
At 7:27 a.m. Tuesday, April 7, police were informed that a female subject appeared to be unconscious inside a vehicle parked in the 100 block of South Daisy Street. After rousing the woman, police determined that 46-year-old Autumn Dawn Garibay of East Wenatchee was wanted on an outstanding felony warrant. She was taken into custody and booked into the Grant County Jail.
Police were contacted at 4:38 a.m. on Saturday, April 4, by a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by known subjects in 2006. The woman said the assault occurred at a party that involved alcohol but she did not know the location address. The woman provided names to police and the incident was under investigation.
A domestic disturbance was reported at 3:03 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, in the 100 block of North Fir Street. Police were told that a female subject was upset about getting her child and entered the father’s residence without permission. Brianna Rae Fuller, 22, Ephrata, was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of first-degree criminal trespass (domestic violence).
The following individuals were cited for driving with suspended licenses or no valid operator’s licenses: Miriam Acevedo Saucedo, 40, Royal City; Enrique Diaz Isordia, 20, Ephrata; Ronaldo Santos Hernandez, 23, Soap Lake; Michael Wenz, 45, Ephrata.
GRANT COUNTY SHERIFF
A malicious mischief incident was reported at 9:32 a.m. Sunday, April 5, in the 200 block of Carswell Drive NE near Moses Lake. The complainant said a male acquaintance had vandalized a window on her vehicle overnight, causing damage estimated at $100. Sergio Torres Perez, 30, no town listed, was later located and arrested on suspicion of third-degree malicious mischief (domestic violence). He was booked into the Grant County Jail.
A theft was reported at 8:44 a.m. last Friday, April 3, in the 8400 block of Road U-NW, east of Moses Lake. Deputies were told that a trailer containing orchard ladders had been stolen by unknown suspects. The loss was estimated at $4,000.
At 11:58 a.m. last Thursday, April 2, deputies located a wanted subject near the intersection of Stratford Road and Road 20-NE. Ronald Eugene Henke, 68, Stratford, was arrested on outstanding district court warrants and booked into the county jail.
The following reports were posted Friday, April 3, 2026:
EPHRATA POLICE
A theft was reported at 3:03 p.m. Thursday, April 2, in the 1100 block of Basin Street S.W. Police were told that a man and woman were seen leaving the Ephrata Safeway store with a cart of unpaid merchandise. The two suspects were identified and officers located the man around 8 p.m. in the 100 block of E Street N.E. Marc Bryan Sass, 39, Ephrata, was arrested without incident on suspicion of third-degree theft and violation of a court no-contact/protection order due to his assocation with the female suspect. Sass was booked into the Grant County Jail.
A two-vehicle, non-injury collision was reported at 5:32 p.m. Thursday, April 2 in the 1100 block of Basin Street S.W. Police said a 16-year-old Ephrata girl driving a 2018 Toyota Corolla struck a parked 2007 Ford Focus, then left the scene. An officer located the girl, who admitted to the incident but said she didn’t know whether damage to the Ford was new or old. The girl said she waited at the scene for a few minutes, then departed. The complainant was not sure whether she wanted to seek charges against the teen.
A theft was reported at 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, in the 1300 block of Nat Washington Way. Police were told that a man and woman had pushed out a cart full of merchandise without paying at the Ephrata Walmart store. The suspects were not immediately identified but a photo of their vehicle was obtained. The incident was under investigation.
A theft was reported at 8:10 a.m. Tuesday, March 31, in the 200 block of Nat Washington Way. Authorities said a 49-year-old Ephrata man who frequently visits the cafeteria at Columbia Basin Hospital had stolen food and became verbally aggressive with staff members. Police were asked to pursue theft charges against the man and he was trespassed from the hospital grounds for one year.
While on patrol at 1:25 a.m. Tuesday, March 31, an officer was flagged down in the 700 block of Basin Street N.W. by a male subject who requested a battery jump-start for his vehicle. The officer suspected the 18-year-old Soap Lake man was under the influence of alcohol or drugs and requested assistance from the Washington State Patrol. A trooper conducted field-sobriety tests and later transported the man to Columbia Basin Hospital for a blood draw.
A burglary was reported at 6:25 p.m. Monday, March 30, in the 200 block of A Street N.E. Police were told that two storage units had been broken into, but it did not appear that anything was taken. The property owner repaired locks on the two units.
A burglary was reported at 3:03 p.m. Sunday, March 29, in the 200 block of Basin Street S.W. The complainant said unknown suspects unplugged a security camera and entered the building through a wall opening which previously contained an air conditioner unit. There was an unsuccessful attempt to open a cash register, but two $20 bills in a display were stolen.
A disturbance was reported at 2:32 p.m. on Friday, March 27, in the first block of Basin Street S.W. Police were told that a female subject was throwing objects and behaving in an erratic manner. An officer contacted the woman, who denied the claim and said it was another person. It was determined that the woman, identified as 28-year-old Nicole Ann Shenefelt of Ephrata, was wanted on an outstanding court warrant. She was taken into custody and booked into the county jail.
A 1:21 p.m. on Friday, March 27, an officer observed a wanted subject on Pioneer Avenue S.E. When approached, the male suspect fled on foot but was located hiding in some bushes on nearby Lee Street. James Hawkeye Taylor, 26, Ephrata, was arrested and booked into jail on an outstanding district court warrant and suspicion of obstructing a law enforcement officer.
GRANT COUNTY SHERIFF
A theft in progress was reported at 2:34 p.m. Tuesday, March 31 in the 1000 block of North Stratford Road at Moses Lake. Authorities were told that a male subject shoplifted merchandise from Walmart and fled in a vehicle which was later located by a deputy. Leonard Lee Knigge, 61, Moses Lake, was arrested on suspicion of third-degree theft and second-degreee burglary after previously being banned from the store. Knigge was booked into the Grant County Jail and the stolen items were returned to Walmart.
A disturbance was reported at 11:27 a.m. Tuesday, March 31, in the 7000 block of Road O-NW near Quincy. A young child telephoned authorities and said her sister and an aunt were fighting. Fatima Cabrera Vargas, 18, Quincy, was arrested on suspicion of fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) and booked into the county jail.
A disturbance was reported at 11:50 p.m. Monday, March 30 in the 1900 block of Road A.5-NE. Authorities were told that a female subject arrived in a car and began yelling about someone getting pregnant. The woman was allegedly at the same location an hour earlier and hit a male family member during an argument. Lucia Rodriguez, 25, Ephrata, was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) and criminal trespass. Ephrata police and the Washington State Patrol also assisted with the incident.
A one-vehicle, non-inury wreck was reported at 8:16 p.m. Monday, March 30, in the 23600 block of Boulder Lane SW in Mattawa. The complainant said a motorist crashed into a tree and fence on his property. Carlos Diaz Salgado, 44, Mattawa, was detained and booked into jail on suspicion of driving under the influence.
At 2:36 p.m. Monday, March 30, authorities were notified that a male subject appeared to be hitting a female passenger while driving in a blue Audi vehicle south of Moses Lake. A deputy located the car on Road M-SE and took the driver into custody. Marco Chavez Diaz, 40, Moses Lake, was booked into jail on suspicion of fourth-degree assault (domestic violence), unlawful imprisonment (domestic violence), and possession of methamphetamine.
A disturbance was reported at 7:35 p.m. Sunday, March 29, in the 100 block of Bing Avenue in George. Authorities were told that a male subject in a parking lot was chasing a female who was yelling “Get away from me.” Deputies responded and arrested Marc Bryan Sass, 39, Ephrata, on suspicion of fourth-degree assault (domestic violence), driving with a suspended license, and motor vehicle alcohol-ignition interlock violation. The woman, identified as 35-year-old Alyx Kylee Rodriguez of George, was arrested for violation of a court no-contact/protection for being with Sass. Both were booked into the county jail.
At 7:32 p.m. Saturday, March 28, a deputy located a wanted subject at an unspecified location. Michael Nathaniel Fale, 32, Ephrata, was arrested and booked into jail on five outstanding district court warrants.
A domestic disturbance was reported at 3:13 p.m. Saturday, March 28, in the 2300 block of Road 13-SE. The complainant said her husband had threatened and physically accosted her. Luis Alcala Ramirez, 23, Othello, was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of fourth-degree assault (domestic violence).
A domestic disturbance was reported at 3:58 p.m. on Friday, March 27, in the 9400 block of Maple Drive NE near Moses Lake. The complainant said her son’s former girlfriend had tried to run them over with her car. Emalea Grace Berko, 19, Moses Lake, was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of two counts of second-degree assault (domestic violence).
A theft was reported at 10:28 a.m. on Friday, March 27, in the 13000 block of North Frontage Road East near Moses Lake. Authorities were told that 1000-gallon poly tanks valued at $10,000 had been stolen from M1 Tanks Inc. sometime around Feb. 11.
