News bites for Feb. 16, 2023

OTHELLO — Adams County Fire District 5 honored Sam Scroggins as Firefighter of the Year at its annual banquet in January, according to an announcement from the district this week. Loren Jensen was named Officer of the Year, and Oscar Lopez was cited as Most Inspirational.

ACFD 5 also recognized Randy Guse for 25 years of service, Justin Barker for 20 years and Sara Garza for 15, according to the announcement.

ACFD 5 covers 215 square miles including the city of Othello, according to its website.

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Police are looking for information about a driver who allegedly ran over a man Friday night, according to an announcement from the MLPD.

At about 10:20 p.m., a man was run over by a pickup near the intersec    Moses Lake Police are looking for information about an incident on the Peninsula in which the driver of this pickup drove over a man Friday night.
  tion of Schneirla and Main streets on the Peninsula, the MLPD wrote. According to witnesses, there had been some sort of confrontation between the occupants of the pickup and the victim, and the man tried to run away from the pickup. The driver of the pickup followed the victim and ran him over. The pickup then fled the scene. 

The MLPD released a photo, not very high quality, of the suspect vehicle, and is in the process of reviewing video footage for a better image, the announcement said.

Anyone with information about this incident, or who recognizes the pickup, is asked to contact Det. Edmund Guerrero at 509-764-3887 in reference to case number 24ML02012. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

GRAND COULEE — Two people were arrested in a drug trafficking investigation Tuesday in the Grand Coulee area, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Grand Coulee Police, assisted by Coulee Dam Police, pulled over a car containing Tony Gonzalez, 42, of Electric City and 36-year-old Latecia Perez of Moses Lake near Grand Coulee Avenue and SR 174, according to the statement. Through executing a search warrant, the Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team found Perez had in her possession 833 fentanyl tablets, with an estimated street value of $1,600; two ounces of fentanyl powder with an estimated street value of $1,000; nearly an ounce of crystal methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $200-$400; and about an ounce of heroin with an estimated street value of $250. Perez also had a scale and several empty baggies commonly used in the drug trade to package smaller portions of drugs for sale in her possession.

Perez was booked into Grant County Jail on suspicion of possession of fentanyl with intent to deliver, possession of meth with intent to deliver and possession of heroin with intent to deliver, the GCSO wrote. 

Gonzalez, a six-time convicted felon, had with him a semiautomatic pistol stolen from a Moscow, Idaho resident, according to the statement. He was lodged in the Grant County Jail on suspicion of first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a stolen firearm.