Richland's National Night Out against crime and drugs is scheduled for August 6th from 5 PM to 8 PM. The event is again sponsored by Target Corporation and is being held at Howard Amon Park behind the Richland Community Center located at 500 Howard Amon Drive. Several special events are scheduled including a live band sponsored by the Friends of the Richland Library, free hot dogs and ice cream to the first 500 people, SWAT, BOMB and Richland Fire Equipment displays. We encourage all Richland citizens to come down and enjoy their night against crime and gangs. For more information contact Community Services Officer Rick Kane at 509-942-7636 or rkane@ci.richland.wa.us

Level 2 Sex Offender Notification

Vincent M. Harris

Harris, Vincent M
34 years of age, white male
5'll", 180 lbs. Bro Hair, Blue Eyes
Address:  500 Block George Washington Way Richland








Convictions:
Child Molestation, 1998, Indiana
Sexual Misconduct w/ Minor, 1998, Indiana
Fail to Register as Sex Offender, 2006, Tennessee
Fail to Register as Sex Offender, 2010, Oklahoma
Fail to Register as Sex Offender, 2012, Franklin Co, WA

Harris recently moved to Richland, WA.  Harris’s victim involves a 16 year old female.  Harris IS NOT currently on Department of Corrections supervision.  He is a “Covered Offender” under RCW 9A.44.190, meaning he is trespassed from all parks, schools and their grounds and libraries in Benton and Franklin Counties. 

HARRIS IS NOT WANTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.  THIS IS FOR INFORMATION

ONLY.

·         The treatment of sexual offenders does not guarantee they will or will not commit another offense. 

·         This information is provided in accordance with RCW 4.24.550.  The Benton County Sheriff’s Office has no legal authority to direct where a sex offender may live.  Unless court ordered restrictions exist, the offender is constitutionally free to live wherever he chooses.

·         Citizen abuse of this information to threaten, intimidate, or harass registered sex offenders will not be tolerated.  Such abuse could end our ability to do community notifications.

·         The Sexual Assault Response Center is available 24 hours a day to provide advocacy, information, referrals, and crisis intervention for victims of sexual violence.  Please give them a call for support or information pertaining to sexual assault at 374-5391.

For additional information and safety tips regarding registered sex offenders in your area log into the Benton County Web site at www.co.benton.wa.us or contact Richland Police Department Detective Athena Clark at 509-942-7354 or email aclark@ci.richland.wa.us.

Media questions may be directed to Capt. Mike Cobb, 509-942-7362

2 Men Arrested for First Degree Murder in Richland Homicide

Arrested:  Hunt, Joshua H., 19 year of age male, Richland Resident

Arrested:  Young, John C., 18 year of age male, Richland Resident

Charge:  Murder in the First Degree

Victim:  Snapp, Joshua J., 17 year of age male, Richland Resident

Synopsis:

On July 4, 2013 Joshua Hunt and John Young lured Joshua Snapp to Beardsley Rd off of SR 240 with the pretext of smoking marijuana.  Once at the location Hunt and Young confronted Snapp about being an informant and money the victim owed to Hunt.  After the confrontation Hunt and Young shot the victim in the chest and the head. 

The suspects then drove to the Benton City area where they put several items into a back pack and threw them into the Yakima River.  Young contacted the clerk at the Conoco convenience store and asked her to call 911.  Benton County deputies arrived and took the two into custody.

Richland Police and Benton County SO located the body of Snapp in the desert off of Beardsely Rd.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.

After consultation with the Benton County Prosecutor Andy Miller, the two suspects were booked into the Benton County Jail on charges of Murder in the First Degree.

The investigation is continuing.  Updates will be published as additional information becomes available.

Media contacts may call Capt. Mike Cobb, 531-6604, with questions.  July 5-7 questions will need to be directed to Sgt. Kevin Berger, 528-0429.

Level III Sex Offender Notification

Motyka, Phillip J. Jr.
46 year of age male
5'05", 175 lbs. Brown Hair, Blue Eyes
Residence:  500 Block Berkshire Street Richland

Convictions:
Communication with a minor for immoral purposes, 1985, Benton County
Rape in the Third Degree, 1990, Benton County
Failure to Register as Sex Offender,  1992, Benton County
Failure to Register as Sex Offender, 1993, Benton County
Failure to Register as Sex Offender,  2012, Spokane

IN JUNE 2013, MOTYKA WAS RELEASED FROM COYOTE RIDGE CORRECTIONS

CENTER AFTER SERVING 10 MONTHS.  UPON RELEASE HE MOVED TO THE CITY

OF RICHLAND, WA.  MOTYKA IS CURRENTLY ON PROBATION AND IS UNDER DOC

SUPERVISION.

MOTYKA HAS BEEN TRESPASSED FROM ALL CITY PARKS, SCHOOLS AND THEIR GROUNDS AND THE LIBRARY.

·         The treatment of sexual offenders does not guarantee they will or will not commit another offense. 

·         This information is provided in accordance with RCW 4.24.550.  The Richland Police Department has no legal authority to direct where a sex offender may live.  Unless court ordered restrictions exist, the offender is constitutionally free to live wherever he chooses.

·         Citizen abuse of this information to threaten, intimidate, or harass registered sex offenders will not be tolerated.  Such abuse could end our ability to do community notifications.

·         The Sexual Assault Response Center is available 24 hours a day to provide advocacy, information, referrals, and crisis intervention for victims of sexual violence.  Please give them a call for support or information pertaining to sexual assault at 374-5391.

A community notification meeting will be held at the Richland Police Department on July 11, 2013 at 1800 hours for those interested in additional information about sexual offenders.

For additional information and safety tips regarding registered sex offenders in your area log into the Benton County Web site at www.co.benton.wa.us

 

National Night Out 2013 @ Howard Amon Park.

Richland's National Night Out against crime and drugs is scheduled for August 6th from 5 PM to 8 PM.  The event is again sponsored by Target Corporation and is being held at Howard Amon Park behind the Richland Community Center located at 500 Howard Amon Drive.  Several special events are scheduled including a live band sponsored by the Friends of the Richland Library, free hot dogs and ice cream to the first 500 people, SWAT, BOMB and Richland Fire Equipment displays.  We encourage all Richland citizens to come down and enjoy their night against crime and gangs. For more information contact Community Services Officer Rick Kane at 509-942-7636 or rkane@ci.richland.wa.us

Armed Robbery at Richland Convenience Store

Armed Robbery Suspect
 

Suspect:  White male, 23-27 years of age, 5-10 to 5-11, dark hair and mustache

Last seen wearing: White shirt, black cap, black jean shorts, black shoes, white socks, black and white checkered flannel jacket

Vehicle:  Dark colored sedan
Weapon:  Dark, semi-automatic handgun

Synopsis:

On June 16, 2013 at approximately 9:25 PM officers were dispatched to an armed robbery that had just occurred at the Lucky Foodmart, 22 Goethals Drive. 

The suspect entered the store and began looking at several items near the front counter.  He then walked to the back of the store and commented to a store employee that he “had the munchies”.  The employee said that he must have smoked marijuana and the suspect replied that it was legal here.  He waited for another customer to leave and then approached the counter.

The suspect pulled a pistol from his waist band and told the employee to give him the money.  The pistol was described as a semi-automatic hand gun, dark with silver markings.
After being given an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspect fled the store on foot.  The employee reported that a car left north bound on Goethals Drive. 

Another witness in the area reported seeing a red Chevrolet north of the store at about the same time as the robbery.  The witness thought that the model may have been Beretta or Cavalier. 

Photos of the suspect are above.  Anyone with information is asked to call the non-emergency number for Southeast Communications, 628-0333.

Contact Capt. Cobb, 942-7362, for additional information.           

Davison closed for rollover accident

Davison Ave., at McMurray St., was closed for 1 1/2 hours while a rollover accident was investigated by the Richland Police Department. An 85 year old female from Richland may have experienced a medical problem while driving south on Davison and hit a parked car, causing her car to flipped upside down onto its rooftop. The 85 year old female was trapped in her car upside down for about 15 minutes while fire and police personnel worked to get her out of the car. She was transported to Kadlec Medical Center complaining of shoulder and neck pain. The parked car belonged to a Bothell man visiting his daughter who lives in the area.