Monday, May 21, 2012

2 Arrested for Discharging Rifles near Col. Point Marina Park

Arrested:  Walker, Cody A; 21 year of age male, Richland resident
Arrested:  Blake, Ronald J; 28 year of age male, Richland resident

Charges:  Reckless Endangerment, Discharging a Firearm Within City Limits

Synopsis:

On March 20, 2012, at approximately 2:00 PM, Richland officers responded to  a call of shots being fired near the area of Columbia Point Marina.  An individual riding his bicycle on the bike path heard a shot and described hearing a bullet pass close to his head

Officers arrived and found Walker and Blake in the area.  Two rifles and several targets were in their possession.  Both told officers that they had been discharging the weapons but did not feel that they were inside the city limits.  When asked if they had been approached by a bicyclist and told about the round passing near him they responded that he was being untruthful and were unconvinced of any danger they posed to people in the immediate area.  The back drop for their targets was the bicycle and walking paths.

Both were placed under arrest for the above violations.  A cooler and backpacks were also with the two subjects.  The cooler contained alcohol and one backpack medical marijuana.

Both Walker and Blake were booked into the Benton County Jail.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Scam Warning

SCAM WARNING! The City of Richland is warning utility customers about a nationwide scam that tricks people into providing personal financial information in exchange for the false promise of getting their utility bills paid by the federal government. There is no such federal program.


Through phone calls, door-to-door visits or online solicitation, scammers are asking customers for personal information, such as social security numbers. They then give victims a fraudulent bank routing number and/or account number with which to pay their bills. The routing number is fake and no payments are made to utility accounts. This is the scammers’ way of obtaining personal identity information.

For questions about your utility bill, call 942-1104, option 1.

If you have been a victim of this scam, call the Richland Police Department at 628-0333. This scam is taking place in multiple states.

Individuals are once again cautioned that legitimate businesses will never initiate contact with them and ask for a social security numbers, account information or bank routing details. 

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Truck Theft Suspect Crashes and Arrested

Arrested: Garcia, Juan Manuel; 20 year of age male; Pasco resident

Charges: Theft of Motor Vehicle; Hit and Run Accident; DUI Accident; Minor In Possession of alcohol

Synopsis:

On May 14, 2012 a 20 year old Pasco resident named Juan Garcia was hired to help a 52 year old woman move household items into her Richland residence from another location. After helping the woman Garcia stole the victim's 2011 Chevy Silverado pickup sometime after 5:00 PM.

Garcia was involved in a Hit and Run accident with the pickup at 10:51 PM on Allenwhite Drive in Richland. The pickup hit an electrical utility box and temporarily knocked out power in that area. At 10:57 PM the dispatch center received a call from a citizen in south Richland reporting a loud crash and squealing tires that sounded like a vehicle crash near Columbia Park Trail and Leslie.

At 10:58 PM the dispatch center received a call from an On Star operator advising that a male driver of a 2011 Chevy Silverado was stating he had just been in an accident in that same area and was injured. Several Richland PD and Fire Department personnel were in the area but were unable to locate the wrecked pickup until 11:11 PM because the pickup was about 40 yards off of the roadway completely buried in brush and Russian olive trees. It appears the pickup had been travelling east on Columbia Park Trail and crossed over into the west bound lane of travel, left the paved roadway and flew through the air 90 feet outward and over 20 feet down into the Riverview Natural Preserve. The pickup continued for approximately another 75 feet through the trees and brush until it hit a tree head on causing it to stop. The pickup appeared to be totalled and had the appearance of a vehicle that has been in a roll-over accident, even though it did not roll over. The fire department had to use a chain saw to make a path to the pickup and to clear a path for the tow truck to remove the vehicle.

Garcia appeared to be intoxicated and was not cooperative.  He had to be handcuffed to the fire department’s backboard even though he was injured. He was transported for treatment to Kadlec hospital. Garcia was not transported to the Benton County jail since it appears that he will need additional treatment for an injured knee.

Garcia is facing charges of Hit and Run Accident, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Minor in Possession of Alcohol and a felony charge of Theft of a Motor Vehicle.

For additional information please contact Capt. Mike Cobb at 942-7362.