Officer shoots man in Mattawa

Police investigation continues

MATTAWA - An investigation is being conducted this week to determine if the use of force was appropriate Tuesday in an officer-involved shooting in Mattawa.

The shooting ended with the wounding of suspect Ruben Lucio, Jr. 23, of Mattawa, who was released from Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, according to Grant County Chief Deputy John Turley.

Lucio allegedly tried to back over Mattawa police officers with a GMC Yukon at about 1:14 p.m. Police officers fired on the vehicle, striking Lucio once in the upper right arm and chest area, according to Turley.

Lucio was later arrested on felony warrants and taken to the Grant County Jail. Mattawa police are expected to recommend assault and driving while license suspended charges for Lucio.

Lucio already has six felony convictions, including malicious mischief, burglary and assault, six gross misdemeanors, three misdemeanors and is recorded as being a gang member, according to the sheriff's office.

Officers found Lucio at a home Tuesday on North Boundary Avenue in Mattawa after responding to a reported fight in a nearby alley. There was also an undetailed assault of customers near the Riverview Laundromat in the same area of town.

Lucio was being sought for questioning in an assault case from earlier Tuesday, but it wasn't clear if he was connected to the fight or problems near the landromat.

Mattawa police reportedly spoke to Lucio, but he allegedly didn't follow their orders, and tried to ram into police with the GMC he was driving, Mattawa Police Chief Steve Jensen stated.

The officers reportedly tried to find cover but were blocked because of other parked cars.

The officers' names weren't released on Wednesday by Jensen.

One of the Mattawa officers involved is also a 31-year-old Grant County reserve deputy. Turley said he preferred that Jensen didn't release the officer's name.

After Lucio was shot, he reportedly led Grant County deputies, a reserve deputy and Washington State Patrol troopers on a chase through town.

The chase ended about three miles southwest of Mattawa after ballistic shields were borrowed from the Hanford Patrol and used to stop the GMC.

Jose Luis Olivares Garcia, 19, of Mattawa was also in the GMC. He was interviewed and released by Mattawa police.

Moses Lake Police Chief Dean Mitchell said his department and the Othello Police Department are investigating the shooting.

They are trying to determine if the use of force was appropriate. They will give the information to the prosecutor's office for review, he said.

Most of the crime scene work was completed Tuesday and the rest of the work should be done by the middle of next week, he said.