Two charged in Moses Lake robbery

EPHRATA - Two people are charged in an alleged shoplifting turned robbery in Moses Lake.

Prosecutors charged Benjamin E. Hansen, 23, Moses Lake, with robbery in the first degree and Mary S. Westenskow, 20, Moses Lake, with rendering criminal assistance in the first degree.

Grant County Superior Court Judge John Antosz set bail for Hansen at $50,000 and for Westenskow at $5,000.

Hansen reportedly was trying to shoplift a tool set from the Big R store on West Broadway, setting off the alarm, according to a Moses Lake police report. When an employee yelled at Hansen to stop, the man reportedly ran and the employee chased him. Hansen allegedly lost his shoes during the chase.

When the employee and Hansen were behind El Rodeo, Hansen reportedly drew a knife and threatened the man, according to the police report. The employee stopped and Hansen fled.

Westenskow was reportedly waiting in a Ford Mustang in the parking lot. She pulled out of the parking lot when Hansen started running, according to the police report.

A witness reported spotting Hansen while the man was hiding in some bushes, taking off clothes, according to the police report. When he saw him, Hansen jumped up leaving a jacket, hat and other materials in the bushes.

An officer reported spotting Hansen running across Third Avenue and getting into the Mustang, before the car pulled onto Broadway, according to the police report.

Officers stopped the car about 10 minutes later at the intersection of Third Avenue and Ivy Street, Moses Lake Police Chief Dean Mitchell said in a previous Columbia Basin Herald article.

The alleged incident caused the Moses Lake School District to lockdown Discover Elementary School, Frontier Middle School and the administration office for about 30 minutes.