Police chase ends near Othello High School

OTHELLO — Othello schools started two hours late on Monday after a high-speed chase ended near Othello High School.

Ventura Ozuna, 30, of Othello, was arrested after allegedly leading deputies on a high-speed chase and barricading himself inside an Othello house.

It started about 3 a.m. on Monday when an Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to stop Ozuna, who was driving a white truck, for equipment violations in the Edson Tracts area of Othello, according to a statement from the ACSO.

Ozuna reportedly did not stop and attempted to elude the deputy by driving away, running stops signs and “demonstrating complete disregard for the safety of the public,” according to a prepared statement from the sheriff’s office.

The deputy chased Ozuna until he exited the truck and ran into a residence located in the 300 block of East Juniper Street. Deputies and officers from the Othello Police Department set up a perimeter around the residence.

The white truck Ozuna was driving, which police later learned had been reported stolen, was seized and a search warrant was issued. A stolen 9-mm semiautomatic firearm was found during the search warrant.

Because East Juniper Street is located about half a mile from Othello High School, police contacted Othello School District Superintendent George Juarez and notified him of the chase.

District officials decided to put schools on a two-hour delay.

Deputies attempted to have all occupants of the Juniper Street residence exit the house, but received no

response from inside.

Police obtained a search warrant for the residence, and the Columbia Basin Tactical Response Team was activated and responded to assist responding agencies.

Ozuna later exited the residence without incident and was taken into custody on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a stolen vehicle, felony eluding and possible drug charges.