Burglary suspect believed to have driven car into Upper Goose Lake
Near O’SULLIVAN DAM, Wash. (12JAN2016) – Divers will be using an underwater robot this afternoon to search Upper Goose Lake in south central Grant County after a burglary suspect apparently drove a car off a 20 foot cliff and into as much as 80 feet of water.
Deputies around 9:20 a.m. today received a call of a possible burglary in progress at a home in the 15000 block of Road B-Southeast near Royal City. The homeowner was able to get some photos of the vehicle and was able to tell deputies a description of the possible suspect.
The vehicle left eastbound from the home and other law enforcement agencies were alerted to be on the lookout for the fleeing car. Royal City police chief Darrin Smith saw the car and followed it at a distance. The suspect car eventually turned off of State Route 262 and into the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, then took off at a high rate of speed. Officers focused on sealing off all exits from the refuge, and officers then entered the refuge to search for the suspect.
Around 10:30 a.m., a sheriff’s sergeant noticed debris floating along the eastern shoreline of Upper Goose Lake at the bottom of a 20 foot cliff. The debris was recovered and bears tool marks and manufacturer’s marks of the same brand as the suspect vehicle. There was no indication the suspect got out of the vehicle prior to going into the lake.
Divers searched along the eastern shore but did not find the car, which may be in as much as 80 feet of water. An underwater robot has been requested from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office to assist, and it arrived on the scene about 3:50 p.m.
More information will be sent when available.
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CR#16GS00413
PR75/AGT4
Address/Location
Grant County Sheriff's Office
35 C St NW
Ephrata, WA 98823
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 509-754-2011
Kyle Foreman
Public Information Officer
[email protected]
509-760-3713