Alleged cop kicker facing charges

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man who was allegedly intoxicated when he kicked two Moses Lake police officers is facing several charges in Grant County Superior Court

Grant County prosecutors charged Cipriano Valdez, 51, of Moses Lake, with two counts of third-degree assault-law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Valdez’s charges stem from an incident on Jan. 18, when the Moses Lake Police Department received a report of a male walking in the road and yelling in the 1100 block of North Stratford Road, according to court documents. Officers contacted Valdez in the area and he reportedly appeared to be intoxicated as he was yelling. He reportedly walked away from police and an officer pulled into the road in an attempt to keep northbound traffic away from Valdez, so he would be less likely to be hit by a car.

“Once Valdez was in the 1100 block of N. Stratford he turned towards traffic and looked southbound. It appeared that Valdez was going to cross the road in an area that did not have a crosswalk,” wrote an MLPD officer.

Valdez continued walking straight and stayed out of the road for about 50 additional feet. He reportedly started to walk into the road and was almost struck by a pickup truck on North Stratford Road. Several MLPD officers started the process of taking Valdez into custody and they were able to get him onto the ground.

While on the ground Valdez allegedly flailed about and kicked two MLPD officers in the process. A taser was deployed and Valdez’s lower body clenched and he momentarily stopped kicking. When the taser cycle ended, Valdez started kicking again. Valdez reportedly received between four and six more taser cycles until police were able to restrain him.

“Once Valdez was restrained he was searched and found to possess a metal pick and a 3-inch pocket knife,” wrote one of the officers.

Valdez was transported to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake for treatment of cuts and scrapes, after which he was transported and booked into the Grant County Jail.

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