Warden man leads police in pursuit
Moses Lake Police Department/courtesy photo Four guns were found in a convicted felon’s vehicle following a pursuit on Tuesday.
Pursuit started in Moses Lake and ended in Warden
By RICHARD BYRD
Staff Writer
MOSES LAKE — A Warden man led police on a chase on Tuesday that started in Moses Lake and ended in Warden with the suspect’s capture.
About 1:30 p.m. Moses Lake police and members of the U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force obtained information that Michael Castoreno, 34, of Warden, who had felony warrants out for his arrest and was reported to be armed with a gun, was at a residence in the city, according to MLPD Capt. Dave Sands.
Before police were able to have the residence secured, Castoreno reportedly got into a vehicle and fled the scene. At least three tires on Castoreno’s vehicle were deflated with spike strips, but he continued driving. Police pursued Castoreno at slow speeds on state Route 17 and at some point during the chase a vehicle belonging to a U.S. Marshal was damaged. The pursuit went all the way into Warden and schools in the city were put into precautionary lockdowns.
Warden police joined in the pursuit and Castoreno reportedly drove down several Warden streets until he eventually abandoned his vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. MLPD K-9 Officer Chief was deployed and police were able to take Castoreno into custody. MLPD Capt. Mike Williams said police recovered four handguns from Castoreno's vehicle.
Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.