EPHRATA — A Moses Lake man was charged after allegedly threatening a man with a knife during a physical confrontation after the man accused him of raping a woman.

Grant County prosecutors charged Joe Henson, 38, a transient living in Moses Lake, with possession of methamphetamine, fourth-degree assault and unlawful carrying or handling of a weapon in Grant County Superior Court.

On May 7 a Moses Lake Police Department Officer was on patrol and reportedly spotted two men physically fighting in the 1000 block of South Division Street. The officer pulled over and contacted one of the two men at the corner of Hill Avenue and Division Street. The man said another man, alleged to be Henson, had punched him in the mouth and pulled a knife on him, according to police records.

The officer eventually contacted Henson, who began telling the officer he was “being ganged” up on and he was attempting to defend himself. As the officer detained Henson for investigative purposes and attempted to place him into handcuffs, Henson allegedly attempted to reach into his right front pocket as the officer grabbed a hold of his left wrist. The officer was able to gain control of Henson's right hand and upon searching him located a large knife sheath tucked into his belt line on his right hip with no knife.

The alleged victim told police that earlier in day he had been advised by a woman that she had been raped and had her hair pulled by Henson. The victim said he confronted Henson about the alleged rape and told him to leave the woman alone. Henson reportedly became upset about the accusation and punched the man in the mouth. After a short scuffle Henson allegedly grabbed a knife that was tucked into his waistband and told the man he would stab him. The knife, which the victim identified as a bowie knife, was located near the back passenger tire of a pickup truck parked on East Hill Avenue.

Henson told police he was walking to an apartment complex to contact a woman, the same woman whom the assault victim said had been raped by Henson, to see how she was doing, as he said he had just returned to town from Oregon the previous night. He said as he approached the apartment he was contacted by the male assault victim, who began accusing him of raping the woman. He said the man got into his face, so he pushed him back and punched him in the face.

“Henson told me he never grabbed or pulled out his knife and he always carries the knife. Henson stated he was afraid and ran to get away from the incident,” wrote a officer. “I asked Henson how the knife came out of the sheath if he did not pull it out. Henson stated the knife fell out while he was running in the area of the trucks parked on Hill Avenue.”

Henson was transported to the Grant County Jail, where he was booked without incident. Upon arrival at the jail, a officer search the remainder of Henson’s property and reportedly located a small bag containing a white crystal-like substance in a pocket Bible. When asked what the substance was Henson stated, “Bad stuff, I know, it is mine. I am not going to lie about it.” The substance was tested and determined to be methamphetamine.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabaisnherald.com.