Ephrata PD blotter

EPHRATA – The reports below were provided by the Ephrata Police Department. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

WA use of force database publishes first report

MOSES LAKE – In a shift towards greater transparency in law enforcement, Washington State has implemented an incident-based police use-of-force reporting system known as the Washington State Data Exchange for Public Safety, or WADEPS. This initiative, spearheaded by the Office of the Attorney General, is the result of collaboration among a variety of groups, including law enforcement, who want such reporting.

Legals for October, 15 2025

Moses Lake man arrested for domestic violence

MOSES LAKE – A Moses Lake man was arrested Sunday morning after Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputies answered a call about a domestic violence incident in the 1000 block of Vandenburg Loop. The victims’ nine-year-old child went to a neighbor for assistance. The neighbor called 911, according to the probable cause statement.

Washington state attorney general agrees to protect seal of confession

(The Center Square) – The Washington State Attorney General’s Office reported on Friday that it has reached an agreement with the Catholic Church over a new abuse reporting law. The agreement stipulates that clergy are still mandatory reporters of child abuse, but it includes an exception for information learned exclusively during the Sacrament of Confession. A federal court blocked the Office of the Attorney General, or AGO, from enforcing the law in July, just days before it was set to take effect. Senate Bill 5375 required Washington clergy members, including priests, ministers, rabbis and other people to act as mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect. The preliminary injunction barred Washington state from enforcing provisions that require those clergy members to report what they learn under the seal of confession. The AGO filed stipulations on Friday that make the injunctions permanent, requiring clergy to report only what they learn outside of confession.

Legals for October, 14 2025

Two suspected DUI drivers total cars

OTHELLO – On Friday night, Adams County Sheriff’s deputies responded to two suspected DUI crashes.

Coulee Dam teacher arrested in underage sting operation

COULEE DAM — Ross Ashenfelter, a 42-year-old fourth-grade teacher at Lake Roosevelt Elementary School, was arrested Monday during a sting operation targeting online predators.

ACSO Jail roster

RITZVILLE — The reports below were provided by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Bird flu detected in Moses Lake commercial facility

MOSES LAKE — The Washington State Department of Agriculture confirmed the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, in a large commercial poultry facility in Moses Lake, marking the first instance of avian influenza in Grant County. The announcement was made on October 10, 2025, following the initial report of sick birds that came to light October 7.

GCSO logs Sept. 29 - Oct. 2

EPHRATA — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office provided the incident details noted below. Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

2 graduate from Community Court with hopes for bright futures

MOSES LAKE – Two participants in Grant County’s Community Court Program graduated Wednesday afternoon after completing addiction treatment and other steps to walk away from drugs and the poor decisions they can lead to. In the case of Sherm Rowland, the graduation is a walk away from a trying past and a celebration of just more than 18 months of being off drugs.

Salvation Army Moses Lake office to close Oct. 17

MOSES LAKE — The Salvation Army will be closing its Moses Lake office Oct. 17, but will still provide services in Grant County. Sara Beksinski, Northwest Division director of development, said the organization’s goal is to put more money into its services.

Getting the bugs out

Pest and weed control service opens in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — With the weather getting colder, some creepy crawly critters are likely to decide that your home should also be their home. A new business in town aims to help evict them. “Spiders, ants, just generally insects,” said Josh Gilliam, owner of Bug Out Pest and Spray. “We’re a very hot and arid environment, but we also have access to a lot of water, so that brings out the bugs.” Bug Out opened for business Aug. 1 and held its official ribbon-cutting Tuesday in Moses Lake. Gilliam has been in the extermination business for about 25 years, he said, first in Spokane and then in Moses Lake. He decided to go out on his own after meeting with his partner Kip Burns, who also owns Blinds for Any Budget and B and B Doors.

Legals for October, 10 2025

Three men arrested, drugs confiscated Wednesday

Meet the Ephrata mayoral candidates

EPHRATA – Ephrata Mayoral Candidates met at Pita Pit Wednesday night to meet with constituents and give speeches on their plans if elected as mayor. Both incumbent Bruce Reim and candidate Steve Oliver said the event was a success.

Moses Lake to sell off Open Doors Sleep Center units

MOSES LAKE – The City of Moses Lake is set to sell off units formerly used at the Open Doors Sleep Center from Oct. 14 to Oct. 17. The sale aims to repurpose the prebuilt gable-style sheds that have remained unused since the center closed on June 30.

FIRE REPORT: Oct. 9, 2025

MOSES LAKE – The two largest fires in the state, the Lower Sugarloaf Fire and the Labor Mountain Fire both had growth in acreage and containment this week. The Lower Sugarloaf fire grew nearly 2,000 acres from Tuesday bringing the blaze up to about 43,000 acres. However, containment also went up from 55% Tuesday to 77% as of Thursday. The Labor Mountain Fire grew nearly 1,000 acres from Tuesday. Containment saw improvement though going from 7% containment Tuesday to 15% containment Thursday.

Fatality collision east of Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE – One person is dead after a collision east of Moses Lake Thursday afternoon. Thursday afternoon. The collision occurred at a little after 2 p.m. on South Frontage Road East at the westbound off-ramp from I-90 to Road O Southeast, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman. A passenger vehicle collided with a 10-wheel truck hauling a trailer of dry fertilizer, Foreman said.