Kennewick hatchet attack sends a man to jail
A 49-year-old was hit in the face with a hatchet Wednesday evening in Kennewick during a fight with another man.
Rafael Mejia Virrueta, 26, was booked into the Benton County jail on suspicion of first-degree assault. He’s being held on an investigative hold without bail. Prosecutors have until Monday to charge him.
Police officers found the victim bleeding from his face just after 6:30 p.m. on the 200 block of North Washington Street near East Columbia Drive.
Virrueta already had left the scene, police said. Officers found him walking toward Clover Island.
Kennewick police released no other information about the assault.
The victim, who was not named, opted not to go to the hospital.
This story was originally published September 27, 2017 at 8:40 PM with the headline "Kennewick hatchet attack sends a man to jail."