Ephrata man accused of burglary

EPHRATA - Grant County prosecutors charged Ephrata resident Jay C. Fawver, 39, with residential burglary after a Soap Lake homeowner allegedly found Fawver in his trailer last week.

Fawver also reportedly attacked a witness with a hatchet tool while fleeing from the homeowner, according to court documents. The witness had a torn shirt and a small scratch on his belly from the assault, according to records.

On Feb. 22 Soap Lake police received a call of a burglary in progress in the 400 block of Division Street. According to court documents, the victim told police he was following the suspect and had him in an alleyway off Division Street.

When police arrived, Fawver was reportedly sitting on the ground wearing the victim's long johns.

According to court documents, the victim had just returned from a friend's house and was about to start working on his trailer's floor when he noticed someone was inside the residence.

Fawver allegedly came out of the trailer with a hatchet tool and ran from the victim.

According to court documents, the homeowner noticed a pile of items in the trailer that were not there when he left the night before. A laptop computer was also on and playing a movie, according to records.

A witness reportedly saw Fawver come out of the trailer. Fawver allegedly assaulted the witness with the hatchet tool during his attempt to flee from the homeowner.

According to court documents, the victim followed Fawver while he called 9-1-1. Another individual reportedly found Fawver hiding in his carport before the victim caught up to Fawver.

Fawver told police he was at the trailer with the victim and his girlfriend the night before, according to court documents. Fawver also reportedly told police the three of them shared methamphetamine.

Fawver denied assaulting the witness or taking any items from the trailer, according to court documents.