Barajas accused of shooting at police

RITZVILLE — Both prosecutors and the attorney representing an Othello man accused of shooting at police in February of this year, have rested their cases and a jury will begin deliberating today in Adams County Superior Court to determine the man's fate.

The defendant, Florentino Silva Barajas, 43, who is charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, provided jurors with nearly two full days of his own testimony.

Adams County Prosecutor Randy Flyckt declined to comment both Thursday and Friday last week about Barajas' testimony or the facts in the case.

Flyckt would not comment about a possible sentence for Barajas, if he is found guilty.

Flyckt's co-counsel, prosecutor Scott Marlow, of Seattle, pumped the witness for information for most of the day Friday. Marlow repeatedly questioned Barajas about lying to officers about his name when he was first arrested and about the number of guns Barajas had in the home.

Marlow also focused on the red jacket worn by Barajas on Feb. 27 of this year during the shooting incident. He suggested that Barajas took the jacket off while scrambling from his home shortly before the shoot-out ensued to avoid being seen by police while he hid in an empty irrigation ditch near the home.

Barajas and Adams County Sheriff's Office deputy Jeff Lane were each struck twice by bullets during the shoot-out near Barajas' home in Othello on S. Taylor Road.

Deputy Dale Wagner was also shot at twice by Barajas during the incident, but was not injured, according to witness testimony.

Barajas' attorney Dennis Morgan said the shooting was self-defense.

Last week, attorneys in the case anticipated a verdict as early as today.