2 charged in Moses Lake carjacking, robbery

MOSES LAKE — Two Moses Lake men are facing charges in connection with a carjacking and robbery incident.

Grant County prosecutors charged Cristo Flores, 22, of Moses Lake, in Grant County Superior Court with second-degree robbery and theft of a motor vehicle. A second suspect, identified as Enrique Leon, 25, of Moses Lake, was charged with second-degree assault and attempted first-degree robbery.

The charges for the two men date back to July 16 when their friend, identified as Luis Ortega, 19, of Moses Lake, was arrested after attempting to steal a Honda Accord from a Moses Lake driveway. The Accord’s owner claimed two days later he was approached by Flores and Leon, who allegedly demanded money from the man because he “cooperated with law enforcement and got their friend, Ortega, arrested,” according to court documents.

The suspects informed the victim because he didn't have any money to give them they were going to steal his car. In addition, the victim claimed earlier in the day as he was walking through Blue Heron Park he was approached by Leon, who allegedly drew a knife and yelled at him to fight.

Later in the afternoon Flores and Leon arrived at the victim’s residence, with Flores informing him he used to make $300 a day off of Ortega and the victim’s cooperation with police cut off that cash flow. Flores was found and taken into custody July 19 by police after he was spotted digging inside of the victim’s Honda Accord in the 4200 block of North Grape Drive, at the College Apartments.

MLPD officers attempted to make contact with Leon at a residence in the 4000 block of Windy Street, but were not able to find him. Police tried to talk to others in the neighborhood and went to past residences where Leon was reported to have lived, but still couldn’t find him.