Moses Lake man charged with assault, hit-and-run

EPHRATA — A Moses Lake man reportedly drove his vehicle into his neighbor’s car head-on after having delusions that his neighbor was trying to kill him.

Grant County prosecutors charged Dennis Kauffman, 65, of Moses Lake, with second-degree assault (deadly weapon) and hit-and-run of an attended vehicle in Grant County Superior Court.

On March 11 the Moses Lake Police Department received a report of a hit-and-run accident in the 700 block of Loop Drive. Officers were advised the suspect vehicle had left the scene on Dune Road and the victim in the incident said he thought the suspect was his neighbor, Kauffman, according to police records.

Police arrived at the scene of the hit-and-run and contacted the victim, who said he went home for lunch and Kauffman drove past him. He advised Kauffman was harassing him over the last couple of months and his behavior had become increasingly erratic. The victim allegedly left his house and made a right turn onto Loop Drive and continued driving east, until he was passed by Kauffman. Kauffman reportedly turned around and drove at his neighbor’s vehicle, hitting him head on. Kauffman reportedly backed his vehicle up after the collision and drove south on Dune Road.

Kauffman was contacted by police at his residence in the 500 block of Washington Street. When Kauffman came out of his house he allegedly said, “they (his neighbors) were trying to kill me.” He further told police, “they have been trying to kill me for a long time, it was self defense.” Police response to Kauffman’s residence had allegedly increased prior to the hit-and-run incident. Officers responding to his residence eight times in Feburary.

“Knowing about Kauffman’s delusions about what his neighbors are doing and now taking action on that delusion I advised (another officer) to place Kauffman in protective custody and transport him to Samaritan Hospital for a mental health evaluation,” wrote a MLPD officer.

A officer reportedly observed a rifle propped up against a wall and a revolver on top of a recliner inside Kauffman’s residence. Kauffman’s wife told police her husband had “gotten crazy” over the past two months and refused to go see a doctor, according to police records. She said she put all of their guns into safes and didn’t know how her husband was able to gain access to them. The woman’s daughter informed police she would help get all of the guns out of the residence.

The victim expressed fear of Kauffman and inquired about getting a restraining order and keeping Kauffman away from him. He said he was in fear for his life and thinks that if Kauffman comes home he, the victim, will be killed.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.