Written by Deputy Rich Magnussen, CCSO

Published: 29 November 2018

Photo by Unknown - https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=At4DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA359Photograph and article appeared in Popular Mechanics of March 1911, no author or photographer listed., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11767459

WENATCHEE, WA – The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, in cooperation with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and the Lake Wenatchee Recreation Club, is offering a free Snowmobile Safety Certification Class to young snowmobilers in December.

The free class is designed for youth ages 12 to 16 but is open to new riders of all ages. The class is scheduled for Saturday, December 8th from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lake Wenatchee Recreation Club, 14400 Chiwawa Loop Rd, Leavenworth, WA.  Lunch will be provided for the participants by the Lake Wenatchee Rec. Club.

The key to safe snowmobiling lies in the operator’s knowledge, capabilities, limitations and understanding of the machine. It is recommended that snowmobilers be aware of weather and trail conditions and the safety of other winter sports enthusiasts, while respecting wildlife and the environment. The snowmobile safety course training includes:

• Basic snowmobile maintenance.
• Survival skills and dealing with emergencies, including avalanche awareness.
• The proper clothing and equipment for winter weather.
• Hand signals while riding and other basic skills.
• Properly preparing for a ride.
• Riding skills test.

Registration deadline is December 6th. A parent or guardian will need to sign a consent form for each child registered and sign them out at the conclusion of the class. For more information or to register, contact Deputy Rich Magnussen with the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office at (509) 667-6508 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Written by Chief Jason Reinfield, CCSO

Published: 27 October 2018

Sheriff Brian Burnett reports on October 25th, 2018 at approximately 1:45 PM the Columbia River Drug Task Force served a search warrant in the 200 block of North Chelan Avenue in Wenatchee.

CRDTF received several recent complaints of suspected drug activity in the residence.  Through investigation, they were able to develop probable cause for the arrest of two 28 year old Wenatchee male residents for unlawful possession of a firearm.  The task force obtained a search warrant for the residence and for the arrest of the two subjects.

Due to the possibility of firearms in the residence and the potential number of occupants, it was determined the Chelan County Regional SWAT Team would be used initially to serve the warrant.  The two subjects named on the warrant were arrested and the residence was cleared without incident.  Three other occupants of the residence were taken into custody on arrest warrants as well.

Chelan Avenue was closed from Fifth Street to Second Street for approximately one hour while the residence was cleared and neighboring businesses were asked to shelter in place.

Washington State Department of Corrections Officers, Wenatchee Police Department, Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, and City of Wenatchee Public Works assisted with this operation.

The Chelan County Regional SWAT Team is comprised of Officers and Deputies from the Wenatchee Police Department and Chelan County Sheriff’s Office.  The Columbia River Drug Task Force is comprised of Detectives from Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, Wenatchee Police Department, East Wenatchee Police Department, and Washington State Patrol.  

Written by Sheriff Brian Burnett, CCSO

Published: 25 October 2018

Sheriff Brian Burnett reports on October 23, 2018 at approximately 10:43 p.m., Chelan County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the 12000 block of Chumstick Hwy, approximately four miles north of Leavenworth, for the report of a male subject firing a gun at co-workers.

Burlington Northern Santé Fe (BNSF) employees were attempting to access a railroad crossing construction site via a private driveway off of Chumstick Hwy.  The BNSF employees were in a large Freightliner truck and had utilized the driveway twice earlier in the day to access the work site.  They were confronted by a male subject, James Carl Brown, carrying an AR style rifle.  Brown advised the BNSF workers that they were on private property.  As they attempted to leave and drive back down the driveway towards Chumstick Hwy, Brown shouted for the group to stop, raised the rifle and fired 3-5 rounds into the ground in front of the truck.  They drove in reverse until James told them they were on BNSF right of way before James disappeared into the trees.

Fearing for their lives and not wanting to drive forward and unable to drive back down the driveway as the railroad crossing was completely torn up due to the construction, they radioed a co-worker who was approximately one mile south of their location.  The BNSF workers were eventually able to escape south on the railway by using a railroad machine via the rail line.

Chelan County Sheriff’s Deputies were able to establish phone contact with Brown.  Brown stated that Law Enforcement was not allowed on his property and refused to meet in person and would only talk on the phone.

Chelan County Regional SWAT was activated and utilized as negotiators continued to dialogue with Brown in an attempt for a peaceful conclusion.  Brown eventually stopped communicating with Chelan County Deputies but was later located by members of the SWAT team and taken into custody without incident.

After securing search warrants for Brown’s residence, multiple firearms were located, secured for evidence and safe keeping.

Brown was booked into the Chelan County Regional Justice Center on (RCW 9A.36.011.1) Assault 1st Degree-assaults another with a firearm (four counts) and (RCW 9A.40.040) Unlawful Imprisonment (four counts).

Written by Chief Jason Reinfeld, CCSO

Published: 16 October 2018

Sheriff Brian Burnett reports on October 15th, 2018 the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office took several complaints of mail theft.  This included a report from a postal carrier who found mail littering the roadway along the their route.  This took place in the Sunnyslope area including Lower Sunnyslope Road, Easy Street, Sunset, Knowles Road, American Fruit Road, Viewmont, and Lovell Road.

Deputies responded and assisted in gathering mail from the roadway.  They have been assisting in returning mail to residents in the area.  This will continue into tomorrow as well.  At this point there is no suspect information.

The Sheriff’s office is asking the public for assistance in locating the suspect(s).  If you believe you have information to include surveillance video of the thefts, please contact the Sheriff’s Office tip-line at 509-667-6845.  You can also submit a tip at the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office website:  www.co.chelan.wa.us/sheriff/forms/submit-a-tip.

This is the time of year where valuable items are often sent through the mail.  It is important to protect yourself from mail theft for outgoing and incoming mail.  The US Postal Inspector recommends delivering valuable items through the slot at the post office or by handing it to the postal carrier.  For incoming mail, If you don’t receive an expected check or credit card, contact the issuing agency immediately. 

There are many other suggestions for safeguarding your mail available at the US Postal Service Inspection website:  https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/

NOTE:  If you are charged with mail theft, you could face up to five years in federal prison and fines of up to $250,000.

Written by Captain Jim West, Operations Bureau Commander, Wenatchee Police Department

Published: 13 October 2018

On 10/11/18 Wenatchee Police Officers responded to a suspicious call at the Holiday Lodge located in the 700 block of N. Wenatchee Ave. The caller reported that two males were acting suspicious around the property for several hours. Both suspects left the property before officers arrived.

The caller discovered that it appeared a couple of the hotel rooms had been entered and possibly a blanket was missing. The Holiday Lodge requested that officers contact the suspects and advise them to not return to their property.

Wenatchee Police Officers eventually located the two suspects identified as Makaella A. Leonardo, a 23 year old female from Visalia, CA and Patrick J. Malone, a 31 year old male from Wenatchee.

During this contact officers noticed that the suspects had several items under some shrubs and Malone had a silver Apple Mac laptop in his possession. At this time both suspects were advised not to return to the Holiday Lodge.

After the officers left they spoke about the contact they had with Leonardo and Malone. Another officer advised that he took a vehicle prowl report on 10/10/18 where a silver Apple Mac was stolen. Officers returned to the area where Leonardo and Malone were contacted but they had left. Officers located items in the same shrubs which included items linked to several vehicle prowls and thefts that have been occurring the past several weeks.

Officers began checking pawn shops to see if the laptop had been pawned. At Pawn Fathers, located in the 500 block N. Wenatchee Avenue, employees stated a couple matching the description of Leonardo and Malone came in on 10/10/18 with two bikes to pawn. Officers looked at the bikes and they recognized one of them as recently reported stolen. Officers reviewed video footage at Pawn Fathers and identified Leonardo and Malone as the suspects who brought in the stolen bike. At the time the suspects brought in the bikes, Leonardo used identification that had been stolen during a vehicle prowl in Carson, WA.

A short time later officers located Leonardo and Malone walking along N. Wenatchee Ave. Both suspects were arrested without incident and were booked into Chelan County regional Jail for Trafficking Stolen Property, Possession of Stolen Property, Identity Theft, and Possession of Methamphetamine.

The investigation into the vehicle prowls and theft is ongoing and officers have collected items of evidence from the suspects relating to several vehicle prowls that have been reported in Wenatchee.

Written by Chief Jason Reinfeld, CCSO

Published: 15 September 2018

On September 12th, 2018 at approximately 1:45 PM, a fire was reported in the dry grass in the front yard of a residence in the 1700 Block of Judkins Avenue in Wenatchee. The reporting party said they believed a male started the fire and gave a clothing description.

Chelan County Fire District 1 responded and extinguished the fire but not before it severely damaged a motorhome being used as a permanent dwelling. The motorhome was in close proximity to where the fire started and was occupied by three people at the time. All three were able to exit the motorhome without injury.

Deputies arrived on scene and observed a male nearby wearing clothing that matched the suspect description. He also had soot on his face under his eyes and on his nose that appeared to be purposefully applied. The male, a 41 year old Wenatchee resident was detained and later interviewed by Detectives.

After the male subject was interviewed by a CCSO detective, he was arrested and booked into CCRJC for Arson 1st Degree.

Written by Sgt. Rob Huddleston, CCSO

Published: 30 August 2018

Sheriff Brian Burnett reports on August 23rd 2018, the Columbia River Drug Task Force with the assistance of Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team (SRT), Chelan County Regional Swat Team, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Chelan County Sheriff’s Office K9, and Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office K9, concluded a narcotics investigation with the execution of a search warrant at 11 Charlotte Lane in Orondo, WA.

The search of the residence produced 2 illegally owned firearms and ammunition, an illegally owned silencer for a firearm, and 204.4 grams of methamphetamine. The Task Force seized 3 vehicles and $9,486.00 in cash.

Sara E. Mitchell (34) and Marco Palacios-Mora (31) were taken into custody for multiple counts of drug and gun related offenses.

Columbia River Drug Task Force Detectives used hours of surveillance, controlled buys, and information from multiple sources to build this case.

Written by Sergeant Kent Sisson, CCSO

Published: 30 August 2018

Sheriff Brian Burnett reports an injured climber was rescued after suffering a fall on Liberty Bell Mountain Tuesday morning (08/28/2018). Benjamin Antonio (67yoa) of Yakima, WA was injured when a hand hold broke loose as he was climbing the Beckey’s Notch route along the northeast aspect of the mountain - approx. 7,000ft elevation.

According to a witness, Antonio’s rope system held, but he dropped about 10 – 15 feet before slamming into the side of the mountain causing hip and back injuries. Antonio’s climbing partner was eventually able to lower him to an area where he could be stabilized.

A climber in the area, activated a SPOT satellite beacon which initiated the notification to the International Emergency Rescue Coordination Center (IERCC) in Texas, and eventually to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue unit. Due to the texting capability of the satellite device, SAR coordinators were able to obtain information on Antonio’s injuries and position on the mountain.

A request was made through State Emergency Management for a hoist capable helicopter to respond to the incident and Chelan County Mountain Rescue personnel were put on standby. The first helicopter deployed to Liberty Bell Mountain was unable to conduct the rescues, so SAR coordinators contacted Naval Air Station Whidbey Island for a rescue response. NAS Whidbey launched a Blackhawk helicopter to the scene by 4:15pm and inserted a medic to Antonio’s location. The helicopter crew had to refuel prior to conducting a successful hoist extraction of Antonio from the mountain around 7:00pm. He was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA for treatment. As of Tuesday evening, his condition was stable.

Written by Undersheriff Jason Mathews, CCSO

Published: 11 August 2018

Sheriff Brian Burnett would like the public notified about an attempted robbery and assault with a deadly weapon that occurred on Sunday, August 5th at shortly before 10:00pm.

The incident occurred near the intersection of South Wenatchee Avenue and the Malaga-Alcoa Highway, south of Boodry Street.

The two victims were working on their disabled vehicle at that location when they were contacted by a lone male subject. The male suspect grabbed one of the victims from behind, placed a knife to their throat and demanded money. After not getting any money the suspect released the one victim and then struck the other victim in the face with an unknown weapon, possibly the knife handle. The male suspect fled the location on foot.

A Sheriff Office canine capable of tracking criminal suspects was called in to assist, but was unsuccessful.

Both victims were treated and released from the Central Washington Hospital.

The Sheriff’s Office is actively working on identifying the suspect, but anyone with possible information is encouraged to call our tip line at 509-667-6845. The victim’s description of the suspect is as follows:

5’ 10” tall

Medium to thin build

Shoulder length dark hair

4” – 6” full beard

Tattoo on right side of the neck

Wearing a long sleeve jacket and long pants

Tattered appearance, possibly from living outdoors