Standoff in Richland Neighborhood Ends Peacefully

Arrested:  Foreman, Derek D.; 35 year of age male, Richland resident

Charge:  Department of Corrections Felony Hold

Synopsis:

On January 17, 2014 at approximately 11:00 PM Richland officers responded to the 700 block of Wright St. on a call of a disturbance involving a firearm.  The reporting party stated that a male, identified as Foreman, had arrived at the residence with a firearm and was threatening to shoot a female who was hiding inside the duplex.

Foreman, a convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing firearms. In addition, there was a felony hold on him issued by the Department of Corrections.  Three adults and two children (ages 3 and 5) were in the residence when officers arrived.  There were multiple attempts to contact the people inside but there was no response to repeated hails.

After about an hour, a 39 year old female ran from the front door.  She had been the one Foreman was threatening to kill.  The female advised that she had not seen Foreman holding a gun but had been told by the other residents inside that he had one.  She said that he had released her feeling that the police would then leave. The female told the officers present that the other subjects inside the home were being held against their will.

Members of the Tri-City Regional SWAT Team arrived to assist.  After continuing negotiations the people inside the residence began to exit.  All of the people inside were able to leave safely. The children, whose father is a tenant in the home, were returned to the custody of their mother.  The streets in the neighborhood were returned to normal operating status at about 3:30 AM.

Foreman was arrested on the DOC hold and taken to the Benton County jail.  Additional charges are being reviewed by the Benton County Prosecutor’s Office.  The investigation is continuing.

Two Subjects Arrested on Drug Charges

Arrested:  Pyke, Robert A.; 42 year of age male, Kennewick resident

Charges:  Possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), KPD warrants for Domestic Violence and Probation Violation

Arrested:  Bertram, Bellamy M.; 29 year of age female, Richland resident

Charge:  Possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine)

Synopsis:

On January 16, 2014 at approximately 10:45 AM, Richland and Kennewick PD officers were in the area of the Motel 6 (1751 Fowler) investigating a stolen vehicle.  They obtained information that Robert Pyke was in room 116.  Pyke had active warrants for his arrest.  After subjects were taken into custody for the stolen vehicle, officers went to room 116 and knocked on the door.  Bellamy answered and Pyke was sitting on the bed.  The officers told Pyke that he had warrants for his arrest.  As he was standing up, Pyke dropped two baggies of suspected methamphetamine that had been in his pocket.  Pyke was taken into custody. 

A search warrant was served on the room.  Officers found additional methamphetamine, a kit containing needles, spoons and baggies with a small amount of heroin inside, a digital scale and a scraper.  Bellamy was linked to the drugs and was also arrested.

The Benton County Prosecutor’s Office authorized a 72 hour hold for each individual on the above listed charges.  In addition, charges for felony Violation of a Court Order are being reviewed for Pyke by the Prosecutor.  They were booked into the Benton County jail without further incident.

Two Subject Arrested in Stolen Vehicle in Richland

Arrested:  Nave, Brittany N.; 25 year of age female, Transient

Arrested:  Mielke, Tanthilantis R.; 24 year of age male, Transient

Charges:  Possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), Possession of a stolen vehicle

Synopsis:

On January 16, 2014 at approximately 10:45 AM, a Richland PD officer was in the area of the Motel 6 (1751 Fowler) and noticed a 2014 Dodge Challenger parked in the lot.  The vehicle was parked in a manner that led the officer to believe that someone had pulled into the lot and had left the vehicle quickly.  He ran the plates and the vehicle returned as being stolen out of Kennewick.  The Motel 6 office staff had no knowledge of the vehicle belonging in their lot.

The officers watched the car until two subjects returned to it.  They got into the Challenger and began to start the car.  The officers approached and conducted a felony stop.  Nave was contacted in the driver’s seat and Mielke in the passenger seat.  Both were taken into custody.

While being interviewed each subject confirmed that they knew the Challenger was stolen.  A subsequent search warrant served on the car turned up several containers of methamphetamine and hypodermic needles.  Each suspect claimed ownership of both the drugs and drug paraphernalia.

The Benton County Prosecutor’s Office authorized a 72 hour hold for each individual on the above listed charges.  They were booked into the Benton County jail without further incident.

Accident vehicle v Pedestrian

On 1/2/14 at 1653 hrs Richland Police Department responded to an injury accident at the corner of Lee Blvd and Stevens.  A vehicle was turning onto west bound Lee from Gillespie when a pedestrian wearing dark clothing stepped into the lane of travel.  The pedestrian was not in the crosswalk at the time of the accident.  The pedestrian was hit and thrown to the ground causing head injuries.  The pedestrian was transported from the scene by the Richland Ambulance to Kadlec ER.  The pedestrian died at Kadlec Hospital several hours later from head injuries.

The pedestrian was identified as Margaret E. Carraher  62 yrs of Richland.

The driver was identified as Jessica A Gifford  26 yrs of Richland.

The investigation is pending.

Richland Shooting Suspect Arrested

James L. Davis III, 28 years of age, was arrested by Moses Lake PD on December 9.  Davis was hiding at a relative’s home in the area and called requesting to turn himself in.  Davis stated that the pressure exerted by law enforcement officers in Benton, Franklin, Grant and Yakima Counties made hiding out too difficult.  He was taken into custody without incident.

Davis is wanted for his participation in a shooting event that happened in Richland on December 4. Over 20 rounds of 7.62 x 39 mm ammunition were fired at a Ford Explorer occupied by three individuals.  The SUV was hit more than 12 times.

In addition to the 1^st Degree Assault charges from Benton County, Davis is also wanted on 4 warrants.  He was booked into the Grant County Jail.  Richland Police investigators drove to Ephrata to interview Davis.  Transportation to the Benton County jail will occur at a later time.

Contact Cpt. Mike Cobb, 942-7362, for additional information.

Circulation of Fraudulent Emails

Recently there has been a circulation of fraudulent emails suggesting the City of Richland is requesting nominations/selections for an award called the 2013 Best of Richland.  The email suggests that Pet Over Population is a candidate for this award and requests you nominate them for it. 

There is a link to POPP's Facebook page in an effort to suggest legitimacy and another link that is titled, "2013 Best of Richland Awards-Animal Shelter".  Below that a secondary link, in case the first doesn't work is listed and is titled, "http://richland.prokwo.com/sy3nrjq_PET-OVER-POPULATION-PREVENTION "

When you click on the links it takes you to a website that will request money from you.  The Richland Police Department wants all residents to know this is a scam.  It is not affiliated with the City of Richland, or Pet Over Population.  Please do not click on the site link, or process funds as it requests.  If you have any questions regarding this please contact Sgt. Ver Steeg at 509-942-7545.

Posted by Ofc. Rick Kane, Community Services.

Shooting in Richland

Suspect:  Davis, James Leroy III, Black Male, 28 years of age, 5’08”, 160 lbs ; Black Hair, Brown Eyes, Transient

Charge:  3 counts of Assault 1^st Degree

Material Witness:  Singleton, Lowell L.; White Male, 37 years of age, 5’10”, 165, Brown Hair, Blue Eyes, 131 Windhaven LN, Richland

Suspect Vehicle:  Late model Jeep Commander, Maroon in color

James Leroy Davis, III

James Leroy Davis III

Lowell Lavell Singleton

 

Jeep Commander

Synopsis:

On December 4, 2013 at about 9:20 PM a car occupied by Davis and Singleton drove into the area of the 100 block of Bitterroot Dr in Richland.  They came across a Ford Explorer occupied Dominic Bailer, 35, Edward Bolt, 32 and Ricci Vogel, 39 all of Kennewick.  The two groups had been having a dispute.

After driving by the vehicle occupied by the three victims, the maroon Jeep Commander stopped.  Davis got out of the SUV with what was described by witnesses as a rifle.  Davis opened fire on the Explorer hitting it numerous times.  One round went through the pants worn by Bolt and slightly grazed his leg.  No one else in the vehicle was injured.  The Jeep Commander fled the area.

Responding investigators located over 20 expended shell casings of 7.62 x 39 ammunition.  Another round travelled from Bitterroot to the 2500 block of Duportail where it struck an apartment.  No injuries were reported in the apartment complex.

Davis and Singleton are still at large.  Anyone with information on their whereabouts should call 911.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Media should call Cpt. Mike Cobb, 942-7362, with questions.