Suspect shoots at deputy near Othello

OTHELLO — A man shot at Adams County sheriff’s deputies after a vehicle pursuit Wednesday night near Othello.

At about 7:49 p.m., deputies were dispatched to assist the Othello Police Department with an assault, Adams County Sheriff Doug Barger stated. Two male suspects fled the area of the assault in a GMC Yukon. Deputies spotted the SUV on Ash Street, he stated.

“The vehicle fled from deputies when they attempted to stop the vehicle,” Barger stated. “The pursuit left town on Cemetery Road. The suspect vehicle then crashed through a locked chain link gate and jumped a small canal.”

The pursuit continued south on state Route 17 and on farm roads east of Othello, he stated. Eventually the SUV rolled in a wheat field off Lee Road near Lemaster Road and came to a stop on its side.

“As deputies approached, suspects could be heard in the vehicle and then a shot from inside the vehicle exited the vehicle breaking out a window,” Barger stated. “Two suspects exited the vehicle and one suspect pointed a handgun at one of the deputies. The deputy fired at the suspect and both suspects fled further into the field.”

It was not determined if a suspect was struck by the gunfire.

Deputies were not injured by gunfire.

Shortly after the suspects fled, deputies set up a perimeter around the field in an attempt to keep the suspects from leaving the area, he stated.

The Moses Lake Regional Tactical Response Team and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit were called to assist. A helicopter equipped with an infrared camera from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office was used to patrol above the field to seek out the suspects.

“A thorough search was completed but the suspects were not found,” Barger stated. “It is believed the suspects used the darkness to escape.”

Authorities believe the suspects were injured in the rollover crash.

One suspect is described as roughly 6-foot 3-inches tall and weighing about 300 pounds. The second suspect is described as tall and thinner than the first suspect.

Deputies are working to compile more information about their identities, he stated.

The deputy who fired at the suspect was placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation.

Barger asks anyone in the area at the time of the incident or anyone with information about the suspects to contact the sheriff’s office at 509-659-1122.