Moses Lake man arrested following domestic violence incident
NANCE BESTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 months AGO
MOSES LAKE – A 35-year-old man is in custody following a domestic violence incident that escalated into a standoff with law enforcement Monday morning, according to the Grant County Sheriff's Office.
Branden Torrey was arrested after allegedly assaulting his domestic partner and firing a round from a handgun into the deck of their home.
Deputies responded to a 911 call at approximately 1:15 a.m. from the victim, who reported the incident at a residence in the 6200 block of Mae Valley Road.
Involving multiple agencies, including the Moses Lake Police Department and the Moses Lake Regional Tactical Response Team, the situation prompted extensive negotiations that lasted several hours.
“Negotiations can generally take a long time because we want to use the least amount of force possible,” said GCSO Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman. “Once negotiations broke down, we went to the next step to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.”
After employing flash bangs and tear gas, Torrey surrendered peacefully to authorities around 5:15 a.m., according to Foreman.
He is currently lodged in the Grant County Jail, facing charges of second-degree assault-domestic violence, resisting arrest and possessing a stolen firearm.
The victim received medical treatment and was provided with domestic violence resources, Foreman said.
ARTICLES BY NANCE BESTON
Mayor Peter Sharp takes oath of office
SOAP LAKE – Grant County Commissioner Kevin Burgess adminstered the oath of office to Mayor Peter Sharp Wednesday. Sharp was previously appointed to this role at the Sept. 18, 2024, council meeting after his predecessor Allen DuPay quit during the Aug. 7, 2024, meeting.
Newhouse, colleagues introduce infrastructure bill
WASHINGTON D.C. — On November 21, 2025, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers introduced the Urban Canal Modernization Act, HR 6279, aimed at addressing the deteriorating condition of urban canal infrastructure across the country. This legislation, sponsored by Representatives Dan Newhouse, R-WA; Mike Simpson, R-ID; Adam Gray, D-CA; and Russ Fulcher, R-ID focuses on providing federal support for the extraordinary operation and maintenance of urban canals deemed to be at significant risk of failure. “As communities in Grant County and elsewhere face serious risks from aging canal systems, it is imperative that we act now to ensure vital water infrastructure is maintained and upgraded,” Newhouse wrote in a statement. “The Bureau of Reclamation’s canals are in dire need of repairs, and the surrounding communities who rely on them would be at risk if they were to fail. This legislation provides local authorities with additional resources to manage these critical pieces of infrastructure while protecting the people and property around canals of concern.”
Ephrata water tower waiting for final tests
EPHRATA — The City of Ephrata is still waiting for the final testing to come back to the water tower. The city had originally hoped the tower would be connected to the water system by Thanksgiving; however, the intensive water testing is taking longer than anticipated.