2017 marks big year for law enforcement agencies

MOSES LAKE — Police activities countywide in 2017 could easily be described by three words: drugs, guns and arrests. The headlines were many, the amount of drugs and guns seized was large and arrest numbers were vast.

From Grant County agencies being involved in a multi-state federal drug investigation in December, to Grant County’s Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (INET) seizing 50 pounds of processed marijuana, 99 pot plants and guns in November, activity was significant. It didn’t stop there. A raid at a Soap Lake residence in October resulted in the arrests of four suspects and the seizure of drugs and guns and a Oct. 5 traffic stop in Moses Lake led to a $1.2 million drug seizure.

Despite the victories of local law enforcement agencies, one tragedy united local deputies and cops more perhaps more than any victory. Deputy Jose Rivera claims he accidentally shot his wife, Sydney, at their Moses Lake home on Aug. 9. Sydney has undergone several surgeries and a report on the incident was completed by the Central Basin Investigative Team, which has since been submitted to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

2017 was also a big year for quick and comprehensive police work to get potentially dangerous individuals off of the streets. One such arrest came in late-July, when with the help of the Royal City Police Department, the Moses Lake Police Department was able to track down two brothers who were wanted in connection with a shooting in Moses Lake.

Jesus Torres and Jonathan Torres were taken into custody in Royal City following an altercation inside of a Moses Lake marijuana retailer that culminated in the Torres brothers allegedly following a vehicle and firing shots at the car. The female driver of the victim’s vehicle received a non-life threatening bullet wound to the back of her heard. Quick police work resulted in the capture of the two suspects, who are now lodged in jail and going through the court system.

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