OTHELLO — At around 11:30 p.m. Monday, Othello Police Department units pursued a stolen vehicle. Officers had attempted a traffic stop, but the driver failed to yield, prompting the pursuit, said Detective Sergeant Brent McFarlane. 

“There wasn’t a lot of traffic out and our patrol units located a stolen vehicle, and it was traveling north on Broadway Avenue,” said McFarlane. 

Authorities chased the suspect into the 600 block of Saddle Road, where the suspect crashed the vehicle into a pile of stacked wood and fled on foot into a marshland area, McFarlane said. Othello officers, with the assistance of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, established a containment perimeter. 

According to an Othello PD release, a drone equipped with infrared technology was deployed, which detected a human heat signature in a fetal position north of the crash site. With guidance from the drone and support from an Adams County K-9 Unit, officers located the suspect, identified as Randy H. Godinez, 31, hiding in the marshland.  

“He ended up surrendering without incident and was taken into custody,” said McFarlane. 

He said the pursuit in total lasted five to ten minutes, with Godinez making his way around town a little bit before getting arrested. 

Godinez was arrested based on probable cause for possession of a stolen vehicle, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, obstruction and driving while license suspended or revoked — first degree, according to the press release. 

As of Wednesday afternoon, Godinez was still listed in custody on the ACSO jail roster. While the jail is closed, inmates are being held at nearby facilities, but are still tracked by ACSO. 

Othello PD reminds the public to remain alert while driving and to report suspicious activity immediately.