Ephrata citizens honored by city council

EPHRATA — Five citizens were recognized by the Ephrata City Council for coming to the aid of Ephrata Police officers attempting to subdue a suspect Dec. 8. The five received plaques and a handshake from police Chief Mike Warren during the regular meeting Wednesday.

John Murray, Don Rogers, Leonard Boche, Christopher Poff and Koree Bottineau were across the street when the incident occurred, Warren said. He read from the report describing what happened.

The suspect was reported walking down the middle of Basin Street in traffic and was described as being in a state of “excited delirium,” Warren said. Ephrata PD Sgt. Gabe Garcia stopped to talk to the man, later identified as John Wrangle.

Wrangle attacked Garcia, who attempted to use his Taser but that didn’t stop the attack, Warren said. The suspect attempted to choke Garcia, and kept trying to choke him even while a second officer was trying to pull him away, Warren continued.

The incident took place in the middle of Basin Street as cars passed by, he said. The five men witnessed the incident, and asked the officers if they needed help. When the officers said they did, “several citizens rushed to us and helped immobilize Wrangle.” They also helped direct traffic while officers were trying to subdue the suspect, Warren said.

“Their actions contributed to saving the life of Sgt. Garcia, and that is saying it lightly,” Warren said. “You handled it exactly the way I would ask any citizen to do.” When it turned out the officers needed help, “you all jumped in without any hesitation,” he said.

Warren presented plaques of appreciation to Murray, Rogers, Boche and Poff. Bottineau didn’t attend the meeting.

Garcia said he appreciated the help of the five men, and that, when he talked to officers he knows from jurisdictions outside the region, they said they weren’t sure they would’ve received the same kind of help. That reinforced his belief Ephrata and Grant County are good places to live, he said.

“Surprised? Yes. Shocked? No,” said Mayor Bruce Reim. He appreciated the assistance of the volunteers, he said, but he wasn’t shocked Ephrata residents were willing to come to the officer's aid.