Sunnyside man nabbed inside airport fence after ramming pedestrian

Jason Mendez, 23, of Sunnyside, was booked into the Franklin County Jail early Saturday after officers observed him pin another man with his Cadillac at the Tri-Cities Airport.

The Pasco Police Department reports an airport security officer reported seeing a gray Cadillac CTS hit a pedestrian and pin him against a building at 3902 Stearman Ave., near Grumman St., shortly after 1 a.m.

The unidentified victim, a 32-year-old man from Sunnyside, was taken to Kadlec Medical Center with facial injuries and a fractured pelvis.

Officers, assisted by airport security and a canine, Hapo, arrested Mendez about a mile away, inside the airport fence line. He was treated for minor injuries and booked on an investigative hold for first degree assault.

Mendez was also being investigated for being under the influence. A lesser felony charge of vehicular assault could be pursued if investigators find the assault was not deliberate.

This story was originally published July 16, 2016 at 10:46 AM with the headline "Sunnyside man nabbed inside airport fence after ramming pedestrian."