Mattawa man points gun at sister, arrested

MATTAWA — A 33-year-old Mattawa man was taken to jail after violating a protection order by pointing a home-made “zip gun” at his sister and threatening to shoot her.

Deputies were called at around 3:45 p.m. on May 30 to the 30000 block of Highway 24 after Malcom Engle, Sr. violated a protection order by showing up at his sister’s home. He then allegedly pointed a “zip gun” – an improvised, homemade firearm – at her. Engle then fled the home.

Deputies, led by K-9 Grizzly and handler Deputy Dave De La Rosa, tracked Engle for about three-quarters of a mile out into the sagebrush. Grizzly barked after finding Engle hiding in a stand of Russian olive trees. Engle surrendered when ordered by deputies, and the zip gun was seized.

Engle was taken to the Grant County Jail for investigation of violation of a protection order (domestic violence), felony harassment (domestic violence), second degree assault (domestic violence), obstructing a law officer and felon in possession of a firearm.

“Grizzly was able to keep deputies safe by alerting them to where the armed suspect was hiding,” Sheriff Tom Jones said. “Grizzly’s skills prevented the armed suspect from having an advantage over the deputies.”