Minatani facing assault charges

EPHRATA - The man, who was shot in the chest by a Grant County sheriff's deputy after allegedly threatening him, is facing assault charges.

Corey L. Minatani, 39, of Moses Lake, reportedly told police he wanted the deputy to shoot him when the deputy responded to Minatani's Viewcrest Drive home, according to a Moses Lake police report.

Prosecutors charged Minatani with two counts of first-degree assault in Grant County Superior Court, according to court records.

Grant County Superior Court Judge John Knodell set Minatani's bail at $500,000.

Problems in Minatani's marriage reportedly came to a head during a two-week National Guard training, according to the police report. Minatani and his wife were members of the National Guard.

The two decided to divorce the week prior to the alleged attack, according to the police report. Minatani left Moses Lake to pick up their children, and was expected to return the next day.

While Minatani was gone, the victim reportedly invited a man to the house to spend the night, according to the police report. Minatani called his wife several times and she reported to police she didn't want to speak to him, so she silenced her phone.

He reportedly became more and more upset as the night continued and he continued to call her, according to court records. Minatani allegedly told her something to the effect of, "if there is another man in my house there will be bloodshed."

At some point in the night, Minatani decided to return to Moses Lake, arriving at the Viewcrest Drive house at nearly 3:30 a.m.

When he found the victim and the man in the bed, he told the man to leave, which he did, according to court records.

An argument started between the two, which reportedly quickly turned into a physical confrontation, according to the police report.

Minatani allegedly switched between homicidal and suicidal during the confrontation. He reportedly knocked the woman to the floor three times, sticking his thumbs in her eyes.

He allegedly armed himself with two large kitchen knives and a large serving fork, according to court records.

At one point, he cut both of his wife's hands with a knife when he swung it. He also backed her against a wall and held one knife above his head, making a stabbing motion, while telling her he was going to kill her.

Minatani's son contacted police, according to the police report. When Cpl. Allan Sleeper arrived, he reported seeing the victim running up to him with blood on her. She allegedly told him to kick in the door.

When Sleeper entered the residence, he allegedly heard Minatani talking to himself in the bathroom, according to the police report. Minatani reportedly told Sleeper he was armed with a knife and he wasn't going to put it down.

When Minatani opened the bathroom door, he was allegedly holding a knife and a large serving fork, according to the police report. Minatani reportedly told Sleeper to put away his flashlight because he was going to need both hands on the gun.

After Sleeper put away the flashlight, Minatani allegedly started advancing. Sleeper reportedly told Minatani to drop the weapons, according to the police report.

When Minatani was about 5 to 7 feet away, he allegedly crouched, as if he was going to charge, and Sleeper shot him in the chest, according to the police report.

Minatani was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, where he was treated, according to the police report. He was released on Aug. 25.