Pasco police arrest armed, wanted man on suspicion of several felonies

An alert Pasco helped lead to the arrest of an armed, wanted man, police said Saturday.

The resident told police they spotted David Castaneda, 35, in the alley behind the 1100 block of W. Hopkins Street. The resident said Castaneda wore a mask over his face and appeared to be holding a pistol.

Officers responded to the call, but Pasco police said on its Facebook page that Castaneda already had fled the scene. He did leave behind a Dodge Charger stolen from Umatilla.

Castaneda soon was spotted about a block away, police said. During a foot pursuit, police said Castaneda tossed a pistol and mask, as well as a knife reported stolen in a burglary earlier in the day.

Police said officers engaged in a foot chase with Castaneda, then surrounded and arrested him on suspicion of several felonies and three outstanding warrants.

Pasco police said Castaneda also is a suspect in a weapons complaint from earlier in the day. Someone reportedly fired six rounds in an alley behind Castaneda’s ex-girlfriend’s apartment. Police said in Facebook comments that the ex-girlfriend was “safe.”

Police said they checked the bullet casings from the scene and matched them to the black Cobra pistol Castaneda ditched during the foot chase.

The Charger’s starter and door handle were damaged. Police said a black racing stripe on the car was spray-painted on “in a weak attempt to disguise it from us.”

This story was originally published March 5, 2016 at 11:04 PM with the headline "Pasco police arrest armed, wanted man on suspicion of several felonies."