Update: Armored vehicle needed to stop fleeing driver who opened fire on Benton deputies
A fleeing suspect opened fire twice during a two-county car chase with Benton County sheriff’s deputies over the weekend.
The chase started at 4:401 a.m. Saturday in Prosser when Tiodoro E. Riojas, 46, of Yakima, pulled away from a traffic stop in a 2007 Dodge Caliber.
It ended when Grandview police put an armored SWAT vehicle in the car’s path, according to a news release from Sheriff Jerry Hatcher.
During the pursuit, Riojas reportedly shot at pursuing deputies in Benton and Yakima counties.
No one, including the officers, the suspect or a female passenger, was wounded or seriously injured.
The deputies did not return fire, said Benton County Sheriff’s Lt. Jon Schwarder.
Riojas is being held in the Benton County jail on suspicion of three counts of first-degree assault, and one count of attempting to elude officers and unlawful gun possession. Bail was set at $300,000.
The Yakima man has previous drug and attempting to elude convictions, according to court records.
Anyone with information on the incident, property damage from gunfire or video footage showing any part of the incident is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 509-628-0333.
Opened fire in the car
The incident began when a deputy pulled over the driver for a traffic violation near Alexander Court and Wine Country Road in Prosser. He discovered Riojas had felony warrants for his arrest, including ones for eluding police and illegal possession of a gun.
When the deputy tried to arrest Riojas and investigate if the no-contact order was connected to his female passenger, he drove off. The deputy gave chase.
As the chase continued on County Road 12, Riojas reached behind him and fired two shots with a 10mm handgun at two deputies and a Prosser police officer, according to court records.
His 35-year-old passenger told police they were passing an empty field between Love’s Truck Stop and Bleyhl’s gas station when the shots were fired.
Riojas allegedly opened fire along Wine County Road in Prosser, Griffin Road near Apricot Road and along Mountainview and Grandridge Road, just south of Grandview.
Grandview officers then used their armored vehicle to “immobilize” the fleeing suspect’s vehicle.
After stopping the car, deputies found one shot had punched through the rear window, and another bullet hit a bag in the back of Riojas’ car and was stopped by a steel-toed boot.
Officers found a semi-automatic pistol on the dashboard of the car after Riojas was stopped and arrested.
This story was originally published March 21, 2021 at 5:27 PM.