Sheriff seeks help finding David Santos

EPHRATA - The Grant County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in finding a fugitive who allegedly eluded a police chase with Moses Lake officers on July 4.

He is the same man the Royal City Police Department has been seeking since June 30 when he allegedly eluded Royal officers and shot a rifle at them from his fleeing car.

A sheriff's office press release last week said that David Santos, 34, was in possession of a hand grenade, among other weapons, during the second chase.

The names of two Moses Lake Police Department officers who fired back when Santos fired at them were released Monday. The exchange of gunfire occurred on July 4, after Santos crashed the vehicle he was driving and ran into an orchard near Royal City.

The officers were identified as Kyle McCain and Adam Munro, both members of the department's Tactical Response Team. McCain is a 10-year veteran of the MLPD, and Munro has worked for the department for five years.

A separate investigation is being conducted into the exchange, since it involved the firing of police weapons.

Officers thought they had Santos surrounded in the orchard, but he got away and has not been seen since July 4. The sheriff's office released more information Monday in an effort to locate Santos.

Santos initially ran away from police June 30, after Royal City officers responded to a domestic violence call. Santos allegedly fired a rifle at police officers while he was fleeing that scene.

He was driving a 2000 Dodge Durango, which was recovered by officers on July 4 near Mattawa. In the meantime, Santos started driving a 2000 Ford Expedition. The agencies looking for Santos established his location and went after him again.

According to Foreman, Moses Lake officers and an officer from the Othello Police Department located him on July 3 and attempted to make a stop at Highway 243 and Beverly Burke Road.

"He stopped for a moment, and then he took off again," Foreman said

A new chase was on. Santos led officers on a 7-mile chase through various roads. He crashed at the junction of Road P and Road 11 SW near Royal City and allegedly fired at officers before running into an orchard. When officers opened the door to the Expedition, a hand grenade fell out.

"Fortunately, it did not go off," Foreman said.

Officers also found one 7.62 mm cartridge at the scene.

Three officers, Munro and McCain from Moses Lake, and an unidentified officer from Othello, returned fire when Santos shot at them, Foreman said.

According to Foreman, Santos's trail was lost after he entered the orchard that is about one mile square. It took forever to deploy enough police to surround the orchard, and police needed to be extra cautious after encountering the grenade. They had no idea how much danger Santos was posing.

"He's from Royal City, he knows the area better than the officers," Foreman said. "We believe he hid under a house in the orchard until we pulled out."

It's possible Santos surfaced again the next morning. A 1997 Toyota Tercel was stolen about 11 a.m. July 4 at a home near Road P Southwest west of Royal City.

"That vehicle was recovered around 8 p.m. near Mattawa," Foreman said. "When it was recovered, the muzzle of an assault rifle was visible inside the car, leading investigators to believe the theft and rifle are associated with David Santos."

Foreman said sheriff's deputies don't know if Santos has another vehicle, or what he's driving if he has a car.

Santos is wanted on suspicion of possessing a prohibited explosive device (the hand grenade), two counts of first-degree assault and two counts of attempting to elude law enforcement officers, Foreman said.

People who may have information on Santos's whereabouts are asked to call the sheriff's office, 509-762-1160 or email crimetips@grantcountywa.gov. Tipsters can remain anonymous, the press release said.