Moses Lake man arrested for weekend assault, robbery

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man was arrested over the weekend for allegedly assaulting and robbing a man who owed him a debt.

About 9:30 p.m. Saturday night the Moses Lake Police Department received a report of an assault at an apartment in the 500 block of West Crest Drive. Police contacted the 28-year-old male victim at the scene, who said a man, identified as Cory Woodruff, 25, of Moses Lake, knocked on the door of his apartment, according to MLPD Capt. Mike Williams.

The victim says he cracked the door open to see who was knocking and Woodruff forced the door open and demanded money. The victim allegedly attempted to give the suspect some money and a fight broke out over the victim’s wallet. The victim was reportedly punched and choked during the fight, but refused medical treatment despite having “visible” injuries.

“Further investigation showed that there was supposedly a debt owed between Woodruff and the victim. Woodruff was staying at a local motel, but was not hard to find, since the victim had picked him up at his room earlier in the day,” Williams said.

Woodruff was found by officers and booked into the Grant County Jail for investigation of second-degree robbery and second-degree assault.

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