Friday afternoon high-speed chase, standoff ends peacfully

MOSES LAKE — Charges are pending against a Moses Lake man who led law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase, then hid in the attic and refused to come out of a house for about an hour Friday.

Robert Gwinn, 38, was taken into custody at about noon Friday. He had abandoned his car after leading police on a 5-mile chase, which ended when law enforcement laid down spikes.

Gwinn was sought for outstanding warrants and was also the subject of a protection order. He had run from law enforcement three time previously, said Kent Jones of the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies found and stopped him near Road L and Road 5 Northeast Friday morning, according to a press release from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. Initially Gwinn stopped his car, but then fled the scene, leading deputies on a chase at speeds approaching 100 miles per hour.

“On two occasions he aimed his vehicle at deputies who were setting up spike strips,” the press release said. He then abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot. Deputies who were watching his residence on Northeast Vandenberg Loop saw him enter the house.

When deputies arrived at the house Gwinn had crawled into the attic and refused to come out, despite repeated requests from law enforcement. Deputies talked to him via loudspeaker and said they weren’t going away.

“We cannot go away. There are issues stemming from today you will have to deal with.”

A woman who said she was his girlfriend talked to him via phone, but he still refused to leave the house.

Two K-9 units, one from the GCSO and one from the Moses Lake Police Department, were summoned, as well as the Grant County Tactical Response Team. Police also set off two charges, called flash-bangs, as a warning.

Those are designed to make the suspects think about what they’re doing, Jones said.

Gwinn came outside and surrendered before the tactical response team or the K-9 units had to be deployed. A second man who was inside the house when the standoff started also was arrested; Matthew Valenzuela, 33, Moses Lake, had several outstanding felony warrants.

Gwinn was booked on his outstanding warrants and for attempted assault of the law enforcement officers, the press release said.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.