Man flees Ephrata with stolen items, crashes

Equipment recovered, suspect arrested

EPHRATA — A mini van stuffed with nearly $1,500 of allegedly stolen computer equipment from the Ephrata Wal-Mart crashed early today along Highway 282, police reported.

The vehicle, a green-colored 1994 Plymouth Voyager, was headed southeast toward Moses Lake on Highway 282, fleeing police. It wrecked near the Ephrata Gun Range around 2:30 a.m., Police Chief Joe Varick said today.

The driver, 27-year-old Ricardo Benavidez of Moses Lake, was booked into Grant County Jail on second-degree theft, the chief said. Benavidez also faces anticipated charges of attempted first-degree assault for trying to run over Wal-Mart employees with his mini van as he fled the store parking lot.

Police recovered the stolen equipment, following the accident, Varick said.

The Washington State Patrol was called to the accident scene. Troopers charged him with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a suspended license and negligent driving. There were also three outstanding warrants for Benavidez's arrest, Varick said.

After the crash, Benavidez complained of possible injury. He was taken to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake. Doctors there determined he was not injured, Varick said.

— Staff report