Man killed in officer-involved shooting identified by law enforcement

BASIN CITY — Dante Redmond Jones, 28, of Pasco, has been identified by the Franklin County Coroner as the man killed by a police officer south of Othello during a traffic stop early Monday.

Three sheriff’s deputies have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into the incident after being treated for minor injuries, following an officer-involved shooting around 3 a.m. Monday, according to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

The deputies involved were identified at a press conference as Sergeant Gordon Thomasson, Deputy Andrew Gardner and Deputy Cody Quantrell.

The deputies reported that they witnessed a vehicle traveling northbound on Sagehill Road at a high rate of speed, near where a vehicle prowling had been reported earlier that morning. Deputies pursued the vehicle and attempted to make contact in the area of R-170 and Davis Lane with the fleeing driver.

Franklin County Sheriff’s Office officials said this is when Jones drove out into the middle of a field near Sagehill and Wahluke. A collision reportedly occurred in the field between Jones’ vehicle and a Franklin County patrol vehicle.

At this time, at least one of the deputies shot at Jones. Though deputies reported that they administered first aid to Jones and transported him from the scene, he later succumbed to his injuries and died. No other details have been released.

An investigation of the incident has been turned over to the Special Investigation Unit and Coroner, according to police officials.