News Bites for Jan. 2

RITZVILLE — Ritzville Police have made an arrest in a two-week-long investigation, according to a statement from the RPD.

Brian Massey, 35, of Ritzville was arrested at about 6 p.m. Saturday, according to the statement. He was charged with residential burglary with sexual motivation, attempted indecent liberties and fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation, as well as three Ritzville District Court warrants relating to second-degree criminal trespass.

The arrest was made by officers Robert Dew and Ryan Borden, according to the statement. 

MATTAWA — A three-vehicle collision near Mattawa sent seven people to the hospital Friday, according to a statement by the Washington State Patrol.

At a little after 8 p.m., a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Alejandro Lopez Chavez, 21, city unknown, was traveling south on SR 243 about 13 miles north of Mattawa, according to the WSP, while a 2017 Jeep Cherokee driven by Marco A. Rangel Orozco, 44, of Irrigon, Ore., and a 2001 Honda Civic driven by Josue Alvarez Verduzco of Ephrata were traveling north. Lopez Chavez crossed the center line and clipped the Cherokee, causing it to roll over and causing Alvarez Verduzco to drive into the ditch. The Jeep came to a rest on its top on the northbound shoulder, and the Honda came to rest about 50 yards into the ditch.

Rangel Orozco was transported to Quincy Valley Medical Center for treatment, the WSP wrote, as were  Anna Rosa Alvarez, 51, and a 16-year-old girl, who were passengers in the Honda Civic. Transported to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland were Rangel Orozco’s passengers Miguel O. Campos, 51, of Kennewick; Nubia Loera, 40, city unknown; Maricela Nieblas, 51, of Kennewick; and Francisco Rangel, 19, city unknown. Another passenger in the Cherokee, Josue Alvarez Verduzco, was unharmed.

All parties were wearing seat belts, according to the WSP. Drugs or alcohol was a factor, and Lopez Chavez will be charged with vehicular assault and DUI.

EPHRATA — A 50-year-old Ephrata man suffered life-threatening burns in a fire early Sunday morning, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Emergency personnel responded around 1:30 a.m. to a report of a fire in a gazebo at a residence in the 17000 block of Road B Northwest, according to the GCSO. Deputies found the man, who was not identified, conscious and alert, and suffering from severe burns. The man was flown to an out-of-area hospital for treatment. The cause of the blaze had not been determined at press time, but the GCSO statement said it might have been fed by gasoline.

Note: The Grant County Sheriff's Office amended its statement Tuesday evening to say that the fire may have been fed by gasoline. The story has been edited above to reflect that change.