Men charged with home invasion

EPHRATA — The men accused of breaking into a residence near Soap Lake and hitting the resident with a baseball bat are facing charges.

EPHRATA - The men accused of breaking into a residence near Soap Lake and hitting the resident with a baseball bat are facing charges.

Robert A. Stark, 35, Soap Lake, Michael L. MacGregor, 27, Ephrata, and Ryan M. Newman, 23, Soap Lake, are each charged with robbery in the first degree, burglary in the first degree and assault in the first degree, according to Grant County Superior Court records.

The victim saw the three men standing in his carport at his Road 19 Northwest residence. After ignoring them, he reportedly heard Stark enter and yell his name. After telling them he would be with them shortly, Stark and MacGregor reportedly barged in, according to a Grant County sheriff's report.

Stark allegedly pulled out a bat and MacGregor held a broken beer bottle before demanding the victim empty his pockets and give them his cash. When the victim told them he didn't have any money, Stark reportedly hit the man two or three times with the bat, hitting the victim's forearm, and then demanded the victim give them all of his tools, according to the police report.

The victim ran for a neighbor's house and called 9-1-1. The men fled the scene in a Chevrolet Blazer, according to the police report.

The victim was treated at Columbia Basin Hospital for a broken arm.

Police found MacGregor hiding in the bed of a nearby pickup truck. He denied the allegations, telling police he hadn't seen Stark or Newman for several days.