Othello area standoff ends with surrender of suspect

OTHELLO — An Othello-area man surrendered to law enforcement officers after barricading himself in a residence when Adams County Sheriff’s deputies attempted to talk to him Wednesday afternoon.

Cristian Martinez, 36, gave himself up about 2 p.m., according to a statement from the ACSO. He was barricaded in a residence in the 2200 block of Rainier Road near Othello.

Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner said members of Martinez’s family reported a couple of days ago that he had made threats, and at that time might be in possession of a gun.

Martinez is a registered sex offender, Wagner said, and deputies went to the house do do some verification.

“He barricaded himself in the house and wouldn’t come out,” he said.

The Moses Lake Tactical Response Team, officers from the Othello Police Department, Adams County Behavioral Health staff and EMTs from Othello Community Hospital also responded to the scene. Officers from the tactical response team persuaded Martinez to come out, Wagner said, and he surrendered without incident.

Martinez was booked into the Adams County Jail on suspicion of felony harassment (threats to kill) and an outstanding Washington Department of Corrections felony warrant.