Moses Lake men arrested after chase through neighborhood

MOSES LAKE — Two Moses Lake men were arrested following a chase Tuesday that included driving through the yard of a residence in an attempt to get away. 

Noah McKinney, 19, was booked into the Grant County Adult Correctional Facility on suspicion of first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and obstructing a law enforcement officer, according to a media release from the Moses Lake Police Department. Manuel Olavirez, 18, was booked for second-degree malicious mischief, attempted to elude law enforcement and hit and run of unattended property. 

Moses Lake PD Captain Jeff Sursely said the incident occurred about 4 p.m. Officers were investigating McKinney in connection with an illegal firearm, Sursely said. 

Detectives from MLPD's Street Crime Unit stopped McKinney's vehicle, a Ford Explorer, on Road 4 Northeast near Road K Northeast.  

"Detectives observed McKinney appear to place an item in the back seat before trading places with Olivarez. Once in the driver's seat, Olivarez fled from the stop, leading detectives on a brief pursuit," the release said.  

Olivarez turned down Road K.5 Northeast, which is a dead-end street at the top of a hill about half a mile east of the Moses Lake Municipal Airport.  

"Olivarez drove through the yard of a private residence before driving down the steep hillside, causing heavy damage to the vehicle," the MLPD release said. "At the bottom of the hill, McKinney jumped out and attempted to flee on foot. Detectives provided K-9 warnings, causing McKinney to give up."  

Olivarez, however, tried to drive away. 

"He didn't stop when he got to the bottom of the hill. He just kept going," Sursely said. 

Olivarez drove the truck until it broke down, then kept going on foot. He was arrested as he walked along Road 4.2 Northeast, the MLPD release said. 

"Detectives obtained a search warrant for the Explorer, locating a Glock pistol that had been converted to fire as a machine gun," the release said.  

McKinney was arrested in July in connection with a hit and run shooting incident July 3, according to Columbia Basin Herald archives. 

Officers responded to an initial report of a hit-and-run collision July 3 and heard multiple gunshots while investigating. The driver of the car fled from MLPD officers before crashing. McKinney allegedly was the driver and was apprehended about 10 days later. Officers served a search warrant on the vehicle and found two handguns and fired shell casings.