Full Notification

Near ROYAL CITY, Wash. (03JULY2015) - About 70 officers from local, state and federal law enforcement continue the manhunt this evening for a man who has twice fired upon law enforcement officers this week.

David Santos is believed to be cornered in a large apple orchard near Road 11-Southwest and Road P-Southwest, about eight miles west of Royal City, Wash.

Tuesday evening, Santos fired a shot at a Royal City police officer who had responded to a complaint of domestic violence. Santos evaded pursuing officers that night, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

This morning, a task force including local and federal officers developed information on Santos' whereabouts, and around 1:30 p.m. attempted a traffic stop on a car with Santos inside. That traffic stop happened on State Route 243 South at Beverly Burke Road in southwest Grant County. Santos fled in the vehicle and officers pursued the car for about seven miles when Santos stopped at an apple orchard at Roads P and 11-Southwest.

Santos got out of the vehicle and fired at officers. Three officers returned fire. None of the officers were hit, and it's not known if Santos was hit. Santos then ran into the orchard. Other officers on the ground and in the air spotted Santos both on foot and driving stolen ATVs while fleeing.

As of 8 p.m. Friday, the one-mile-square orchard is surrounded by officers, and Santos is believed hiding in the orchard. Citizens in a five miles radius of Road 11-SW and Road P-SW are asked to lock doors and windows, remain alert and to call 911 immediately if they see Santos or if they spot any suspicious activity.

The police officers who returned fire on Santos are part of the Moses Lake Regional Tactical Response Team. Two of the officers are from Moses Lake Police Department, one officer is from the Othello Police Department. As is normal procedure when officers fire their weapons, the shooting is being investigated by the Columbia Basin Investigative Team, which includes detectives from the Grant County Sheriff's Office, Moses Lake Police Department, Ephrata Police Department, Adams County Sheriff's Office and Washington State Patrol.

We will provide regular updates throughout the evening.

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PR75/A102/AGT2?

Kyle Foreman R-75
Public Information Officer
Grant County Sheriff's Office
509-760-3713
[email protected]
facebook.com/GrantCoSheriff
@GrantCoSheriff/@GCSOKyleForeman

Instructions:

Citizens in a five miles radius of Road 11-SW and Road P-SW are asked to lock doors and windows, remain alert and to call 911 immediately if they see Santos or if they spot any suspicious activity.