The SUV was barreling toward the Kennewick officer. He pulled a rifle and fired twice
A man is in jail for reportedly taking aim with a SUV at a Kennewick police officer on Tuesday.
The 15-year police veteran pulled out a rifle and fired two shots at the car with three people inside.
No one was hit and Officer Drew Sneyd was not injured.
Sneyd is on paid administrative leave while detectives investigate what happened.
Sgt. BJ Moos said at least three patrol officers responded about 7:45 p.m. to gun-related calls on the 900 block of North Cleveland Street. The street includes a cluster of apartment units just off Canal Drive near Edison Street.
Some callers reported shots being fired. Others said people were arguing and guns were flashed.
Joe Castaneda Jr., 35, of Richland, is accused of being behind the wheel of a GMC Yukon as officers arrived.
Sneyd was getting out of his patrol car and grabbed his rifle as the Yukon passed one patrol car and veered straight at him, said Moos.
Sneyd fired two shots into the SUV.
The Yukon didn’t stop, making it a few blocks before Castaneda apparently lost control at the intersection of Canal Drive and North Perry Street.
The Yukon plowed over a street sign, onto a lawn and hit a house.
Castaneda was arrested but his passengers were just questioned and then released.
He is taken to the Benton County jail on investigation of being a felon in possession of a gun.
Cameron Probert: 509-582-1402, @cameroncprobert
This story was originally published December 13, 2017 at 7:08 AM with the headline "The SUV was barreling toward the Kennewick officer. He pulled a rifle and fired twice."