Standoff in Quincy ends in arrest
The Quincy Police Department sealed off the Quail Run Apartments for several hours on Tuesday until they arrested an armed suspect who had allegedly assaulted two people earlier in the day.<br>David A. Cole/Columbia Basin Herald
Man with gun taken in without single shot fired
QUINCY — Several law enforcement agencies responded to a standoff in which a 39-year-old man was holed up inside a Quincy apartment for several hours with a gun Tuesday afternoon.
Police evacuated the Quail Run Apartments and cordoned off the entire block containing the complex. Apartment residents were directed to nearby Quincy Junior High School during the evacuation, Quincy Police Department Chief William A. Gonzales said.
Jose Jorge Ederardo Cortes was arrested about 1:30 p.m. without a single shot being fired after the Moses Lake Regional Tactical Response Team entered through a slider door that was open. TRT broke out the windows of the apartment for maximum visibility before entry, but once inside the apartment, the suspect was found hiding in a closet under a pile of blankets, Gonzales said.
Later inspection of the apartment by police turned up a handgun, Gonzales said.
TRT only entered the apartment after obtaining a search warrant and after the suspect was apparently unresponsive to all negotiation efforts.
TRT is made up of members of several law enforcement agencies in Grant and Adams Counties who respond to high-risk incidents.
Tuesday's incident started at 7:14 a.m. when the QPD responded to a family fight call from the apparent victim and her daughter who were able to flee apartment 19 at the corner of D Street SE and Second Avenue SE to call authorities.
The victim reported that Cortes held her against her will, threatened her and assaulted her after he had spent the previous evening drinking alcohol extensively, Gonzales said.
The victim and her daughter were later taken to Quincy Valley Hospital where they were treated and released.
Cortes was booked into Grant County Jail on charges of second degree rape, first degree assault, felony harassment and two counts of fourth degree assault.
ortes also has several warrants with bail totaling $100,200 for failure to appear and failure to comply with the court. He has two previous charges of driving under the influence and two previous charges of no valid operator's license, Gonzales stated.