Violent suspect subdued by Taser

RITZVILLE - An Adams County Sheriff's deputy and a Washington State Patrol trooper arrested an Ocean Shores, Wash., man Dec. 30 after several reports of aggressive, violent behavior in both Sprague and Ritzville.

Kenneth Andrew Curtiss, 32, of Ocean Shores, was arrested and booked into the Franklin County Jail, where he was being held on $5,000 bail at press time.

Curtiss is charged with two counts of third-degree assault of a law enforcement officer, each a Class C felony. Each charge carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

He will be arraigned at 9 a.m. Jan. 13 in Adams County Superior Court in Ritzville.

"Deputies were dispatched to the Big B Truck Stop in the 2000 block of North Durry Road (in Sprague.)," Sheriff Dale Wagner wrote on social media. "A male subject had reportedly assaulted an employee and fled in a vehicle with distinctive flags on its bumper."

The man was later identified as Curtiss.

"About 10 minutes later, while deputies were en route, another assault was reported at a Texaco gas station located in the 1500 block of West First Avenue (in Ritzville)," Wagner wrote, noting a man fitting the same description as the Sprague suspect then allegedly assaulted a patron at the gas station.

"That subject arrived in a vehicle, a Jeep, with the earlier-described distinctive flags on its bumper," he wrote. Deputies, along with a Washington State Patrol trooper, made contact with the male subject at the Texaco gas station. The male escaped to his vehicle, where a short scuffle took place with a deputy being assaulted."

Adams County Sheriff's Deputy Oscar Munoz identified himself as the officer struck by Curtiss in a Dec. 30 probable cause document filed in Adams County Superior Court. Munoz described several attempts to communicate with Curtiss, which appeared to be repeatedly rebuffed.

"At approximately 09:18 hours Kenneth (Curtiss) punched me in the upper lip area with a close fist and yelled, 'Get off me,'" Munoz recorded in the probable cause document. "Kenneth attempted to punch me two more times but missed my face. Kenneth backed up into the passenger seat area of the jeep. holding his feet up in the air, not listening to commands to get out of the Jeep."

Court records show that about 3 minutes later Adams County Sheriff's Sgt. Barnes arrived on scene.

"At the same time, Kenneth exited the Jeep and began running northeast from Jake's Cafe toward the Texaco gas station," the probably cause statement said. "Trooper Hansen and I began a foot pursuit after Kenneth. After approximately 50 yards of running, Kenneth stopped and faced Trooper Hansen and I.

"Kenneth attempted punching Trooper Hansen and I multiple times."

Sgt. Barnes eventually used his Taser on Curtiss, who he fell to the ground and was arrested without further incident, court records show.

Curtiss was taken to a local hospital before being booked and transported to the Franklin Couty Jail in Pasco.

"Corrections staff members placed (Curtiss) in full body restraint, (WRAP device) due to his behavior and to prevent any injury," according to Wagner.

"The vehicle driven to the scene by (Curtiss) contained a husky dog that was taken into protective custody by Adams County Pet Rescue," Wagner continued.

Apassenger in the vehicle was cleared of wrongdoing and released, court records show.

"There are additional charges pending further investigation for this incident," Wagner wrote.

Adams County Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Robert Lehman is preparing the state's case. Curtiss will be represented by Attorney Deanna Crull.