'Fugitive Finder' launches today in CBH

MOSES LAKE - Starting today, the Columbia Basin Herald and the state Department of Corrections (DOC) are partnering to bring the newspaper's readers the "Fugitive Finder" every Thursday.

Today's "Fugitive Finder" can be found on page A-11 in the Columbia Basin Herald and lists names of 10 felons being sought by the DOC in Grant and Adams counties, including their photos, physical descriptions and information on their warrants.

"Fugitive Finder" will eventually expand to be included in the weekly Royal Register.

Kimberly Allen, a Moses Lake-based DOC community corrections supervisor, explains the featured individuals are currently on active warrant.

It is the first time in this area the DOC has put photos of felons in the paper, she said.

"If community members could help us locate them, that would be great," Allen said.

Do not try to apprehend the felons. Instead people are asked to call dispatch at 509-762-1160 after hours or the DOC during the week to report any sightings. The DOC's Ephrata contact number is 509-754-6980 and its Moses Lake number is 509-764-6180.

She explains the felons are supervised based on where they live and a majority of the people on the list are from this area.

There is no formal process in selecting who makes the list. She just asked officers who they had.

"I assume they put the ones in there they are most concerned about," Allen commented. They include those with the highest risk to reoffend.

"If they are out there not compliant with supervision, they're likely using drugs and getting involved with criminal behavior," she said.

Columbia Basin Herald and Royal Register Publisher Harlan Beagley said the publications are providing free space for the "Fugitive Finder" as a community service.

It started when DOC officials Becky Sackmann and Stephanie Canterbury came to Beagley's office and said more than 100 felons in Grant and Adams counties were having challenges with their release. Some were failing to report to their parole officer and others were violating their parole conditions in other ways.

DOC officials came to Beagley because they remembered a similar program the paper did in the 1990s for the Grant County Sheriff's Office. During that campaign, more than 500 individuals were found.

"The newspapers are in a unique position to help these individuals find justice," he said in part. "Once a week we'll publish 10 photos and descriptions of individuals who are wanted."

With the help of more than 29,990 readers for both publications, "we'll be able to identify the location of these individuals," he said. "It would continue indefinitely as long as we feel it is mutually beneficial."

To avoid publication, Beagley suggested felons who believe they may be on the "Fugitive Finder" list turn themselves into authorities.

If readers have any questions, comments or suggestions of how to use the paper in a positive way to strengthen the community, contact Beagley at 509-765-4561, ex. 115.