In a weeks-long operation, the Othello (Washington) Police Department arrested 15 accused sex buyers from across the region.
“As affiliates of the FBI Human Trafficking Task Force, we are dedicated to combatting the sexual exploitation of women, children, and men in our community,” a post on Facebook states. “It is the stance of the Othello Police Department that if no one purchased commercial sex, then sex trafficking would not exist!”
During the investigation, sex buyers fled the scene, assaulted officers, and promoted prostitution, according to authorities. The charges included patronizing a prostitute, promoting prostitution, resisting arrest, forgery, and violating a domestic violence no-contact order. OPD commended the Warden Police Department and the Washington State Department of Corrections for their support.
The arrested suspects are Omar Ruiz, 25, of Moses Lake; Patrick Baker, 44, of Federal Way, Washington; Manuel Torres-Adame, 41, of Othello; Hilario Moreno, 40, of Kennewick; Kobe Mcelmurry, 24, of Moses Lake; Calixtio Agudo-Hernandez, 39, of Mattawa, Wash.; Elias Gomez-Velasco, 28, of Mattawa; Darin Ross, 44, of Othello; Natasha Attaway, 44, of Ellensburg; Jaime Sanabria-Mendivelso, 37, of Moses Lake; Victor Lystedt, 57, of Maple Valley, Wash.; Jayme Brashears, 51, of Electric City, Wash.; Gilbert Reyes, 32, of Warden, Wash.; Rolando Gonzalez-Chavez, 33, of Soap Lake, Wash.; and Chad Larson, 51, of Kennewick.