Crime – The Daily Evergreen

Man pleads guilty to two Class A felonies

JAYCE CARRAL, Evergreen reporter

July 3, 2019

A 40-year old man was convicted of two Class A felonies on June 28 after taking a plea agreement on April 19. Jose Luis Perez-Morales was charged with second-degree rape and first-degree child molestation and will serve 136 months to life. Dan LeBeau, Whitman County Chief Deputy Prosecutor, said Perez-Morales...

Man faces to serve nine months in jail following plea deal

JAYCE CARRAL, Evergreen reporter

June 18, 2019

A former WSU Vancouver student continues to serve jail time after he was found guilty by a jury in March, according to a previous article by The Daily Evergreen. 23-year old Thomas Culhane pleaded guilty on June 6 to lesser charges of second-degree assault with the intent to commit rape. Dan LeBeau, Whitma...

Teen arrested for arson, awaiting court hearing

JAYCE CARRAL, Evergreen reporter

June 5, 2019

Police arrested a teenage girl Friday on multiple charges including first degree arson/domestic violence and two charges of first degree animal cruelty. A fire occurred around 10 a.m. on May 21 at 1155 SE Professional Mall Boulevard Unit #306 and two animals died in the fire. Pullman Police Cmdr....

Man released today for allegedly threatening pedestrian with firearm

JAYCE CARRAL, Evergreen reporter

May 28, 2019

A Pullman resident facing first-degree assault charges was released from Whitman County jail today on bail. Pullman Police Cmdr. Chris Tennant said the alleged incident occurred at 2 a.m. Saturday morning. “A pedestrian was crossing in the crosswalk and a vehicle on [Grand Ave] came up and was...

Bomb scare reports in Pullman and Moscow

JAYCE CARRAL, Evergreen reporter

May 9, 2019

Three possible bombs in the Pullman and Moscow area were reported to local police within the last two weeks. Pullman Police Cmdr. Chris Tennant said a pedestrian called police around 8 a.m. Sunday and reported seeing a suspicious device at City Playfield park. “There’s a series of three field...

Laser arena fire caused by suspected arson

DAN DOUCET, Evergreen reporter

May 6, 2019

Pullman police have begun a criminal investigation into a blaze that caused heavy damage to a Pullman business early Sunday morning. Fire investigators found evidence of vandalism and concluded that the fire originated in multiple parts of the building, according to a news release. An investigation...

Possible bomb discovered at Pullman City Playfields

RACHEL SUN, Evergreen reporter

May 5, 2019

An apparent pipe bomb was discovered at the Pullman City Playfields around 8 a.m. Sunday morning, according to a press release by the Pullman Police Department. “Officers located what appeared to be a ‘pipe bomb’ like device placed next to electrical panels on the west side of the Playfields...

New law will require sexual assault kits to be tested faster

JAYCE CARRAL, Evergreen reporter

May 3, 2019

Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law a Washington House Bill aimed to eliminate the backlog of sexual assault kits in the state. Tina Orwall, Washington state representative from the 33rd legislative district, said she began eliminating the backlog in 2014. “I had been touring evidence rooms, and...

Three WSU athletes arrested on felony vandalism charges

JAYCE CARRAL, Evergreen reporter

April 29, 2019

After allegedly jumping on and damaging two cars, three WSU athletes were arrested on suspected felony vandalism charges. Pullman Police Cmdr. Chris Tennant said the alleged incident was reported by witnesses at 1:14 a.m. Saturday at Cougar Ridge Apartments. He said the witnesses of the alleged i...

Pullman man faces four felony charges

JAYCE CARRAL, Evergreen reporter

April 20, 2019

A 23-year-old Pullman resident was arrested Thursday after detectives from the Quad Cities Drug Task Force found cocaine and other drug paraphernalia in his house, according to a press release from the task force. Francisco J. Torres Jr. is facing three felony counts of delivery of a controlled s...

Cowlitz County deputy dies in roadside shooting

GEORGE ERALIL, Evergreen reporter

April 15, 2019

A Cowlitz County deputy died after he was shot Saturday night. Deputy Justin DeRosier was dispatched to investigate a disabled vehicle on Fallert Road because it was blocking a roadway, according to a press release from the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office. He was shot shortly after he arrived. Re...

Bud Hut manager arrested for alleged involvement in robbery

ANGELICA RELENTE, Evergreen news editor

April 12, 2019

Whitman County investigators arrested Bud Hut Manager Jeremy West on Thursday for his alleged involvement in the robbery of the dispensary Monday morning. West is being held on a Whitman County warrant for first-degree theft charges in the Latah County Jail, according to a press release from the Whitman...