Serving Franklin County, WA
Serving Franklin County, WA
Most charges dropped against Omar Zuniga
OTHELLO – All but two charges have been dropped against a local man accused of attacking a co-worker with a tree branch in an orchard near Basin City on May 2.
Omar Eusebio Zuniga, 40, of Othello, remained in the Franklin County Jail on $100,000 bail on a charge of second-degree assault as of Monday, May 8.
He was initially arrested on charges of second-degree murder, five counts of displaying a weapon with intent to intimidate, failure to appear/surrender, fourth-degree assault and second-degree assault.
Most of the charges were dropped May 5, but he remained jailed on the second-degree assault charge and was given one-day credit for time served on the failure to appear charge.
Zuniga’s arrest fame after the two orchard workers got into a fight about 9 a.m. near Basin City, records show, noting Zuniga allegedly picked up a branch and hit the other worker.
Zuniga was believed to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident, records show.
When Zuniga tried to leave the orchard, other workers blocked his way, prompting the suspect to pull out and point a gun at co-workers, prompting them to allow him to leave, records show.
Zuniga fled to Adams County, where his vehicle was identified by a license-plate reader; deputies located the vehicle at his home in the 600 block of South Third Avenue, where he was arrested, records show.
“Zuniga was turned over to Franklin County Sheriff units who arrived on scene,” Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner said. “A search warrant for the residence is being sought by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office at this time, for any evidence involved in the Franklin County case.”
Othello Police Department assisted by cordoning off the area..
Anyone with more information on the incident is asked to contact Franklin County Sheriff’s Office detective Ramona Bolanos at 509-545-3501
Roger Harnack is the co-owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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