Moses Lake man charged with robbery

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man is facing charges for allegedly robbing a man outside of a Moses Lake business in late November.

Grant County prosecutors charged Angel Avalos, 24, of Moses Lake, in Grant County Superior Court with second-degree robbery-force or threat of force.

The charge stems from an incident on Nov. 30 when the Moses Lake Police Department received a report of a robbery in progress at a business in the 700 block of West Third Avenue. Officers were advised a man was having trouble with two people, one of whom is alleged to be Avalos, who stole his phone and attempted to take his money, according to court documents.

The victim in the robbery told officers he arrived at the business to cash his check and Avalos and another male approached him and told him to hand over his money. Avalos allegedly opened the man’s car door and told him to give him his money, but the man told the suspect he did not have any money.

Avalos told the victim he was going to cash his check and the other suspect allegedly told him he has “several guys after him and if he did not pay them $80, he would be killed.” The victim said he went into the business and the suspects followed. As the man was cashing his check, he reportedly told the clerk to hold onto his money and indicated there was people attempting to rob him.

The two suspects and the victim walked out of the business and Avalos asked the victim how much money he had. Avalos allegedly threatened the man and the other suspect told him if he gave him $80 he would get Avalos off of his back. Avalos allegedly told the man he would sell his phone back to him for the amount of the check the victim cashed. During his interview with police Avalos claimed he has know the victim for a while and initially asked him to use his phone.

He said they went into the store and the victim offered to buy him a soda. Avalos claimed he gave the victim his phone back and denied asking him for money or attempting to take money from him. Avalos initially claimed he was alone when he was came into contact with the victim, but he later changed his story and admitted he previously dropped the man he was with off at the Home Depot in Moses Lake.

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