Search continues for armed fugitive near Royal City

ROYAL CITY, Wash. – Law enforcement officers expanded their manhunt Saturday morning for an armed fugitive following an overnight search in an apple orchard near Royal City that produced no results.

Grant County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kyle Foreman said by 10:30 a.m. Saturday there were no sightings of suspect David Santos Sotello, who police said exchanged gunfire with officers Friday and fired shots at police officers Tuesday.

About 70 local, state and federal officers had surrounded the Royal City orchard about 9:30 p.m. Friday after they believed Santos had run on foot into the orchard and perhaps stolen an ATV. Residents within a 5-mile radius of the orchard, about 8 miles southwest of Royal City, were urged to stay in their homes and lock their doors.

With no confirmed sightings of Santos, the number of officers taking part in Saturday’s search had been reduced, Foreman said.

“We don’t know where he is right now,” he said. “We’re waiting for a verifiable sighting to again step up the manhunt.”

Foreman said the incident started Tuesday, when Royal City police responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at a residence. When they arrived, a man identified as Santos fired shots at the officers and fled in a vehicle. They pursued him, but he was able to evade them.

Police searched for him during the week and enlisted the help of the U.S. Marshals Service. They assembled a team and began searching for him Friday and located him on Highway 26 near Mattawa.

He initially pulled over but then sped away with numerous officers in pursuit, Foreman said. He drove into an orchard and got out of his car.

“He fired at officers as he got out of the car,” Foreman said. “Officers fired shots at Santos.”

No officers were injured, but it is not known if Santos was hit, he said.

Officers on the ground and in a helicopter observed Santos driving an ATV in the orchard.

Until Santos is captured, Foreman said, the sheriff’s office wants people in the area to stay inside their homes and remain alert.