Administrator Arrested for Custodial Sexual Misconduct

Arrested:  Stoker, Mindi M; 38 year of age female, Pasco resident

Charges:  Custodial Sexual Misconduct 1st Degree, Custodial Sexual Misconduct 2^nd Degree

 Synopsis:

On December 7, 2015 Richland Police were notified of a possible incident involving a staff member at the Twin River’s Community Facility, 605 McMurray Street.  Twin Rivers is a juvenile rehabilitation administration facility staffed by employees of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).  It houses minors who have been convicted of felony crimes throughout Washington State.  Mindi Stoker is the acting Community Facility Administrator for Twin Rivers.

The complaint alleged that a staff member, Mindi Stoker, had sexual contact with an 18 year old resident.  Complaints of this nature are typically processed through Child Protective Services (CPS) since the facilities are licensed to house juveniles.  CPS referred the incident to Richland PD for a criminal investigation. A detective from the Washington State Patrol is also involved in investigating part of the case.

The investigation revealed that Stoker had communicated in several different formats with a client housed at Twin Rivers.  Messages contained information of a sexually explicit nature. It appears that the contact had been going on since at least October, 2015. 

The two had sexual contact on a number of different outings and trips taken together.  On some of the excursions other individuals were present and observed inappropriate contact.  The two had sex at least once in the facility located at 605 McMurray St.

A search warrant was served and a phone and computer seized.  Evidence found on the cellular phone supported the initial allegation.  A number of interviews have been conducted with staff and clients of Twin Rivers.

On December 8, 2015 RPD Detective Jansen contacted the Benton County Prosecutor’s Office.  After being briefed on the case, they authorized a 72 hour hold for Stoker.

Stoker was contacted at her residence in Pasco and taken into custody without incident.  She was booked into the Benton County jail on the above listed charges.  The investigation into this incident is continuing.

Media contacts are encouraged to call Cpt. Mike Cobb, 942-7362, with any questions.

Richland Police arrest burglars

Synopsis:

Richland Police Officers arrested a 17 year old male after tying him to 6 commercial burglaries and two malicious mischief incidents.  Two accomplices were arrested on one of the burglaries. 

Officers have been investigating a string of commercial burglaries since the end of September which have been mostly focused in the central business district.  Officers were able to collect physical evidence from the burglaries and matched evidence found on/with the suspect when he was arrested.

During the subsequent interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crimes which were corroborated by the investigations.

Submitted by Sgt. Darryl Judge

Weapon Violation

Synopsis:

On November 17, 2015 at about 8:30 PM Richland Police received several calls of shots being fired near the 1500 block of George Washington Way (between Torbett St. and Van Giesen).

Responding officers searched the area and found approximately 15 shell casings from a 9mm semi-automatic pistol.  The shell casings were in the parking lot of the M Hotel, 1515 GWW.

Assistance was requested from a Kennewick PD K-9 unit.  The area was searched by patrol officers and the KPD K-9.  No firearm or additional evidence was located and no impact point for the 9mm bullets was found.

The investigation is continuing and additional details will be released if they become available.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Richland PD by calling 509-628-0333.

Our media partners should call Cpt. Mike Cobb, 509-942-7362, with any questions.

Home Invasion Burglary

On November 8, 2015 at approximately 9:10 PM five male subjects entered an unlocked residence in the 1100 block of Benham Street.  They were armed with weapons that included shotguns, pepper spray and a baseball bat.  The male subjects were dressed in dark, hooded sweat shirts, baggy pants and were wearing dark ski masks over their faces.

One suspect told the female occupant that she was being robbed and ordered her to the floor.  She refused and tried to confront the men.  One victim told officers that at least one subject cycled the action of a shotgun and reported hearing the trigger being pulled.  A second occupant also tried to engage the suspects and was pepper sprayed in the face.

The subjects eventually fled out of the house and ran north on Douglass Ave.  They got into a vehicle described as a 4 door passenger car (unknown make) with tinted windows that was dark in color.  The victims believed the suspects to be white or Hispanic males in their 20’s.  They spoke with no discernible accents and ranged in height from 5’5” to 6’00” tall.

A K-9 officer was requested and Pasco PD responded.  A brief track led north but did not conclude with any suspects or evidence being located.

Responding officers found a 12 GA shotgun shell on the floor of the victim’s living room.  The round had not been fired.  The shotgun shell was collected as evidence.

A neighborhood canvass produced one witness who the victims contacted and asked to call 911.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call Richland Police at 628-0333.

Contact Cpt. Mike Cobb, 509-942-7362, with questions.

Subject Arrested for Displaying Replica Handgun

Arrested:  Wilkie, Justin J.; 21 year of age male, Tonasket address
Charges:  13 arrest warrants, Unlawful Display of a Weapon

On October 26, 2015 at about 12:35 AM officers received a call of a male subject displaying a handgun at another individual at 1540 Jadwin (7-11).  The suspect left the area with several other people in a vehicle.

The vehicle was located near the area of Van Giesen and Birch in Richland.  Wilkie was a passenger in the car.  When he was contacted he still had what appeared to be a pistol tucked into the waist band of his pants.  The weapon turned out to be a Taurus BB gun that had the appearance of a semi-automatic handgun.

Wilke and another subject had gotten into a confrontation at the 7-11.  Wilkie lifted his shirt and displayed the pistol to the other individual with the intention of intimidating him.  The victim stated that he believed the gun and threat presented by Wilkie to be real.

It was discovered that Wilkie also had 13 warrants issued for his arrest from both Benton County District and Superior Courts.  He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Benton County jail.

Contact Cpt. Mike Cobb, 509-942-7362 for additional information.

Arrested:  Jones, Richard R.; 60 year of age male, Richland resident
Charges:  Assault 2nd degree, Felony harassment

Synopsis:

On October 23, 2015 Richland officers received a call of an assault that had just occurred in the area of Waldron Street and George Washington Way.  A male subject had gone to a home of a friend and was assisting with some computer repairs.  Jones, a tenant in the home, began arguing with the victim and calling him names.  Jones demanded that the victim leave the house.  The home owner told the victim that he didn't have to leave and asked that he continue to work on her computer.

Jones left for a short time and returned with a pistol.  He pointed the handgun at the victim's chest and told him repeatedly that it was loaded.  Jones restated his earlier demand for the subject to leave or he would kill him.  The victim left the residence.

Police contacted the homeowner and confirmed the series of events related to investigators by the victim.  The homeowner also confirmed the presence of her elderly, bedridden mother.  Due to the risks posed by intervening while the two females were still inside the home, officers waited until this morning to contact Jones.  The elderly female had been taken from the home early this morning for medical treatment.

Jones was contacted in the back yard of the house and taken into custody without incident.  He was booked into the Benton County jail on the above charges.

A search warrant was served on the residence and officers found a revolver that is believed to be the weapon used in the assault.

Contact Cpt. Mike Cobb, 509-942-7362, for additional in formation.

Richland Police Department Drug Take Back Day Saturday, September 26th from 10 AM to 2 PM

     The Richland Police Department's DEA Drug Take Back event is this Saturday, September 26th, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  The event is being held at the police station located at 871 George Washington Way.  We will be accepting prescription and over the counter medications. Needles will not be accepted.

For more information on the initiative visit:
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/