News bites for Aug. 23, 2023

GEORGE — An Everest, Kan., woman was arrested and booked into the Grant County Jail on suspicion of first-degree assault — domestic violence, early Monday morning after she allegedly shot her boyfriend after he hit her in the face.

Margo Hudspeth, 42, was arrested after an incident near the Wild Horse Monument south of George, wrote Kyle Foreman, public information officer for the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident occurred around 11:45 p.m. Sunday on the eastbound side of Interstate 90. The unidentified man allegedly hit Hudspeth in the face, and she shot him in the elbow, Foreman wrote. The man was transported for the gunshot wound.

“In most domestic violence situations, the primary aggressor is arrested, which in this case would be the person causing the most egregious harm, in this case, a gunshot wound. The female’s injuries were documented and statements were obtained that support the allegation the female was attacked first,” Foreman wrote.

The documents will be sent to the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office for review, he wrote.

Following the shooting, Hudspeth ran into the brush near the monument.

“Bureau of Land Management Ranger Chris Dodds used his infrared camera to pinpoint where she was, and a team of law enforcement officers took her into custody. The weapon, a revolver, was also recovered,” Foreman wrote.

VANTAGE — Drivers on State Route 26 south of the Vantage Bridge should anticipate delays Thursday and next Monday as contractors work to repave a section of the road.

Paving crews will be removing and replacing asphalt in several locations between mileposts 0.35 and 0.47, according to a press release from the Washington State Department of Transportation. Crews will be working from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on both days.

“Travelers should plan on flagger-controlled traffic with a pilot car and delays of up to 20 minutes during working hours,” the DOT press release said.

GEORGE — Law enforcement officers arrested 13 people during narcotics investigations at the Bass Canyon music festival Aug. 18-20 at the Gorge Amphitheater, according to a release from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Kyle Foreman, GCSO public information officer, said the weekend investigations resulted in 29 felony drug distribution charges and one arrest for felony identity theft.

“The controlled substances seized by law enforcement over the weekend ranged from hallucinogens (psilocybin mushrooms and LSD) to dissociative anesthetics (Ketamine), stimulants (MDMA, MDA, cocaine) and cannabis,” Foreman wrote. “Detectives also seized DMT, another psychedelic drug that distorts the user’s view of reality,”

About 20,000-25,000 people attended the concert, Foreman wrote.

Law enforcement agencies working the concert included the Grant County Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team, the Moses Lake Police Department Street Crimes Unit, the Cannabis Eradication Team from the Washington State Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations.

MOSES LAKE — Four cases of harassment were reported to Grant County Sheriff’s deputies during the Grant County Fair, according to information released by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. Four cases of real property trespassing also were reported.

Three cases of simple assault were reported, three disturbances and two family fights, the release said. There were two reports of juvenile problems, three of lost and found property and one report of graffiti. One case of a missing person was reported, one case of a found person, one report of obstruction of justice, two reports of suspicious circumstances and two reports of property theft.

The week also saw one report of an injury traffic accident, one non-reportable traffic accident, two reports of theft and one report of loud music.