Investigation continues into Warden officer crash

MOSES LAKE - The State Patrol continued its investigation Monday into a weekend crash involving a Warden police officer attempting to stop a man driving with a suspended license.

About 12 p.m. Saturday, Officer Jose E. Navarro, 37, stopped a vehicle driven by Armando Perez, 23, of Warden, driving with a suspended license. The suspect fled in a van and Navarro chased the vehicle several miles into Othello, according to the Grant County Sheriff's Office.

Navarro, driving a fully-marked 2006 Ford Crown Victoria patrol vehicle, was heading north on 14th Avenue approaching Main Street, still following the suspect. When Navarro arrived at the intersection, his vehicle was struck by a 1999 Ford Explorer on the driver's side door, disabling both vehicles, according to the State Patrol.

An Adams County sheriff's deputy briefly took over the pursuit but lost sight of the vehicle as Perez headed through residential streets, according to police reports.

Grant County sheriff's deputies later found Perez's vehicle abandoned in an alley on Pine Street. Law enforcement searched the area but were unable to find Perez. Officers found a handgun and shotgun ammunition during a search of Perez's vehicle.

The driver of the Explorer, Skylar M. Reichert, 19, reportedly five months pregnant, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Othello Community Hospital and later released.

Navarro was evaluated by the Moses Lake Clinic and released fit for duty, according to Warden Police Chief Rick Martin. The patrol vehicle was reported totaled.

The cause of the collision is still under investigation.

Perez is a known gang member, convicted felon and could possibly be armed, according to Martin.