Wednesday, Jan. 07, 2009

Richland police investigating if shooting report false

By Paula Horton, Herald staff writer

Richland police surrounded an apartment complex for about 90 minutes Tuesday after receiving a report that a 54-year-old man fired a gun outside his apartment.

Detectives, however, are now investigating whether the report was made up.

No pistol was found inside the man's apartment and investigators didn't find any other evidence of a crime, Capt. Mike Cobb said.

Officers were called around 7:45 a.m. to the North Trace Village Garden Apartments, 200 Waldron St., after two people said a tenant fired a pistol, Cobb said.

The two tenants claimed to have gotten into a confrontation with the man and claimed he assaulted one of them, Cobb said.

All Richland officers on duty -- detectives, administrators, patrol and school resource officers -- responded to surround the area.

Around 9:30 a.m., officers called the tenant on the phone, and he agreed to come outside.

Police searched the apartment and he was released without charges.

2 men arrested in burglaries

Two Benton City men and several teens have been arrested in connection with a series of recent burglaries in the Prosser area, the Benton County Sheriff's Office said.

The group is believed to be responsible for about a half-dozen burglaries, but deputies and detectives are still working to solve about two dozen other break-ins in the west end of the county since October, said Lt. Joe Lusignan.

Detectives and deputies have been making a concentrated effort to talk to residents between Benton City and the Yakima County line, and work with other law enforcement agencies to solve the crimes, Lusignan said.

Citizen tips helped investigators track several suspects.

Andrew A. Alvarez, 18, and Steven Roy Cox, 19, and several teens were arrested on suspicion of burglary and possession of stolen property.

A number of stolen items, including guns, have been recovered, Lusignan said. He said it doesn't appear a burglary ring is working in the area.

"I think it's individuals taking advantage of the remoteness of the area," he said. "But their MO's are similar."

The burglars are suspected of casing neighborhoods and knocking on doors. If no one answers, they then going to the back of the house, kick open the door and load up items, he said.

Typically one person stays in the car driving around until they get a call to go back and pick up the goods.

Sheriff's officials continue to ask residents to keep an eye out for suspicious activity and report anything suspicious by calling 911, 628-0333 or 786-2112.

Citizens who want to stay anonymous can call Tri-Cities Crime Stoppers at 586-TIPS pr 586-8477 or visit www.tricitiescrimestoppers.org.

Pasco firsfighters put out fire

Pasco firefighters quickly extinguished a blaze that appeared to have started in a front room, sending heavy smoke throughout the house.

Crews were called to the home at 722 W. Bonneville Street at 10:11 a.m., after a neighbor reported seeing flames in the front of the house, Lt. Jeff Eliason said.

Heavy flames were visible through the front window when firefighters arrived and smoke was billowing from the eaves.

Residents in a basement apartment were able to safely evacuate. No one was in the main level at the time.

Most of the fire damage was limited to the front room, but there was smoke damage throughout.

Authorities were investigating whether the fire started near an entertainment center in the front room. It was possibly caused by an electrical fire, but is listed as "undetermined" because investigators say they can't find an obvious source.

Kennewick police seek counterfeiters

Kennewick police and Tri-Cities Crime Stoppers are seeking help identifying a couple who used phony money to play cards at a Kennewick casino.

The couple passed several counterfeit $100 bills on Dec. 17 at the Island Casino on Gage Boulevard, said Mike Blatman, Kennewick's crime prevention specialist and Crime Stoppers law enforcement coordinator.

An image of the couple seen at the casino's cashier cage was released Monday and can be seen at tricityherald.com.

Blatman said there have been other recent cases where counterfeit bills were made on genuine paper currency. Counterfeiters have been washing real $1 and $5 bills and reprinting them to be $100 bills, he said.

Tri-Cities Crime Stoppers pays a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information that results in a felony arrest.

Anyone with information about the counterfeiters can call 586-8477 or visit www.tricitiescrimestoppers.org. Tips can also be sent by text message by writing "Text TIP 411" plus the message to CRIMES (274637).

All calls to Crime Stoppers are confidential.

Woman accused of killing toddler held without bail

A Milton-Freewater woman accused of killing her 2-year-old son is being held on no bail in a Umatilla County jail.

Loretta Maxine Polanco, 26, appeared in Umatilla County Circuit Court on Monday where she was preliminarily charged with murder by abuse, felony murder, first-degree manslaughter, first-degree assault and first-degree criminal mistreatment, said Dean Gushwa, Umatilla County district attorney.

Gushwa said he plans to present the case to the grand jury on Thursday and expects Polanco will appear in court Jan. 12.

"I expect after the grand jury hears the full facts of the case, there will be other charges," Gushwa said Tuesday. "Since her arrest, further searches have occurred at the home that help establish (probable cause) for additional charges."

Polanco's son, Lucas Isaac Polanco, died Sunday at Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland. He had a traumatic brain injury and several internal injuries, Gushwa said. Some older injuries were also found.

"The pattern of abuse has been over the last six months, but the killing wounds were more recent," Gushwa said, adding that evidence shows an escalating pattern of abuse.