Othello officer on leave, suspect sought after shooting incident

OTHELLO — An unidentified Othello Police Department officer has been placed on administrative leave after being involved in a shooting incident Aug. 5. Othello police are looking for a suspect in the incident.

Othello Police Chief Phil Schenck said in a statement released Thursday morning that police are looking for Aaron Urbina, 32, Othello, and that Urbina may be armed with a handgun.

The incident is being investigated by the Columbia Basin Investigative team, which consists of representatives from regional law enforcement agencies. Investigative team public information officer Kyle Foreman said Thursday morning the officer was not injured in the incident. Investigators do not know if the suspect was injured, but there is no evidence to suggest that he was, Foreman said.

The incident occurred about 10:30 p.m. in an alley near the 800 block of Larch Street in Othello.

According to the press release, the officer reportedly radioed dispatchers he was contacting an individual that was wanted, then radioed a few minutes later that shots had been fired and the suspect had a gun. The suspect fled the scene.

The suspect was last seen wearing black pants, a short-sleeved navy blue shirt, white shoes and a black hat, the press release said.

— Cheryl Schweizer