Columbia Basin Herald Online Newspaper

Local News - Moses Lake, WA - Grant County

George man fires pistol, released

Posted: Tuesday, Oct 07, 2008 - 01:46:42 pm PDT
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By Candice Boutilier
Herald staff writer 

Prosecutor frees suspect

GEORGE - A George man reportedly fired a semi-automatic pistol outside the Rivershark Pub in George after the server refused to serve him and his friend alcohol Sunday.

Cornilio Serrato-Serrato, 51, George, and Carlos F. Vasquez-Serrato, 22, George, reportedly went outside the pub to fight with the server who refused to serve them more alcohol, Grant County Undersheriff John Turley stated.

Vasquez-Serrato reportedly shot two rounds from a 9 mm pistol into the air, he noted.

The two men reportedly left in a 2000 Nissan Quest driven by Catarina Castillo, 68, of George.

Two Washington State Patrol troopers assisting county deputies reportedly saw the suspect vehicle on state Route 26, 10 miles west of Royal City.

The troopers stopped the vehicle driven by a woman and apprehended the three male suspects, Turley noted.

Vasquez-Serrato was booked into Grant County Jail for aiming or discharging a firearm and felony harassment.

Serrato-Serrato was booked into jail for felony harassment and criminal trespass.

Castillo was booked into jail for aiding and abetting.

When deputies inspected the pistol, they noticed it malfunctioned, Turley noted.

"A spent round was still in the 'stove-pipe' position," he advised. "A stove-pipe position is where a semi-automatic weapon does not fully eject the spent shell casing and jams in the slide of the pistol, not allowing it to fire the next round."

Grant County Deputy Prosecutor Steve Scott declined to file charges, "pending further investigation" and agreed to release the suspects without bail, according to county records.

The sheriff's office confiscated the pistol and will hold on until the further investigation is concluded.


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uncomplicated wrote on Oct 8, 2008 10:13 AM:

" Lets go ahead and release a person who has a semi automatic gun.
But first lets make sure he does not own an extra dog. We could really get him for that one. "

steve-o wrote on Oct 7, 2008 10:51 AM:

" I agree. Great job just doing it and not just talking about it. Action is better than words in this case. All of our kids are growing up faster no matter what the age. Now we need parents to step up and be an example and stop making excuses. "

Rico wrote on Oct 7, 2008 7:47 AM:

" Good job of getting in front of the problem. My limited contact with the school system shows me this kids are physically and intellictually more advanced than my generation, but emotionally stilted. They take a rumor, He said, She said, and get a real storm brewing. Cell phones and texting should be prohibited, taking the problem to off school hours. As usual, where are the parents? "

BigBad23 wrote on Oct 4, 2008 2:17 PM:

" Has this been annexed into the city limits? We have housing sites going in all directions here in Ephrata, just wondering who will fill them up, and where will they work? We already have enough non-working citizens, so I hope these are moderately expensive houses. Quincy went on a building spree and all housing values went up, pushing the unemployed and freeloaders here. Get read Wilson Creek or somewhere, ours will be on the way soon. "