Othello man arrested for assault, K-9 helps catch second suspect
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 11 months AGO
Adams County Sheriff's deputy Joe Phillips and K9 Garret caught a suspect in the case of a stolen vehicle near Othello Sunday.
Adams County Sheriff's Office
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | February 9, 2021 1:00 AM
OTHELLO — An Othello man was booked into the Adams County Jail for alleged second-degree assault and possession of a stolen vehicle after an incident near Othello Sunday afternoon.
Diego Rangel-Valdez, 29, allegedly was driving the stolen vehicle.
A Mattawa man was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle in connection with the same incident. Serafin Rangel-Sambrano, 36, was identified as one of two passengers in the vehicle.
Rangel-Sambrano was located with the help of K-9 Garrett and handler Adams County Sheriff’s Deputy Joe Phillips.
The incident occurred about 5 p.m. near the intersection of Danielson Road and state Route 26, according to a press release from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.
Rangel-Valdez allegedly threatened a bystander with a screwdriver before fleeing the scene on foot. The K-9 unit was called and Garrett located a man, later identified as Rangel-Sambrano, pretending to be sleeping in the vehicle.
Rangel-Valdez was located, identified and arrested later, the press release said. A third person was not located and is still at large.
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Informational meeting on Wahluke capital levy Jan. 28
MATTAWA — Wahluke School District officials will be available to answer questions on the district’s capital levy request at an 11:30 a.m. presentation on Jan. 28 at the Sagebrush Senior Center, 23 Desert Aire Drive SW, Desert Aire. The levy’s purpose is to pay off debt and and upgrade safety infrastructure in school buildings.
AC commissioner says county may get monetary help for mandated services, or not
RITZVILLE — Adams County Commissioner Dan Blankenship said one of Adams County’s biggest challenges is finding the money to fund all the services it’s required to provide. Nor is Adams County alone, which is why county officials from throughout the state are looking to the 2025 Washington Legislature for some monetary help meeting mandates the state has placed on them.
WA car insurance rates up more than 15% in 2025
MOSES LAKE — Like pretty much everything else, the cost of car insurance is going up – and in Washington, it’s going up by a hefty percentage. Divya Sangam, insurance specialist for LendingTree.com, said in a press release that car insurance rates in Washington are going up by an average of 17.2% in 2025.