In brief: Motorist shot to death during police pursuit

KENNEWICK – A motorist who had been reported driving erratically in the Tri-Cities was shot to death by police Monday after authorities said he drove his car at a motorcycle officer in a parking lot.

Kennewick police Chief Ken Hohenberg described Christopher D. Villareal, 39, of Richland, as having a history of extensive contacts with Tri-Cities police. He was dead on arrival at Kennewick General Hospital of Richland after being shot at about 1:30 p.m. Monday.

Motorcycle Officer Lee Cooper, whose bike was hit and who fired the only gunshots, was treated for a leg injury at the hospital before being placed on paid leave pending a police review, a standard procedure in law enforcement shootings. Detective Brian Pochert also was at the scene and has been placed on paid leave, Hohenberg said.

“From what I know, it appears the officers acted in the scope of department policies,” he said.

The police chief gave the following account:

Villareal hit a fence in Richland with his 2001 Lexus IS300, kept driving and came to the attention of authorities in Kennewick with a report of erratic driving on State Route 240 about 15 minutes later.

He continued onto U.S. Highway 395, turned, ran a stop sign and eventually pulled into a parking lot across from the Kennewick Irrigation District headquarters, followed by Cooper on his motorcycle and Pochert in an unmarked car. Witnesses reported hearing several shots.

Coast Guard rescues two from burning charter boat

WESTPORT, Wash. – The Coast Guard said two crewmen were rescued from a burning fishing boat about 40 miles off Willapa Bay on the Washington coast, and a second boat in trouble was given aid at Grays Harbor.

The crew of the 39-foot Titan out of Westport reported the engine room fire at 6:38 a.m. Monday and called for help.

The Coast Guard responded with a helicopter from Astoria and a 47-foot motor lifeboat from Westport.

The Coast Guard said a charter boat, the Ms. Magoo, picked up the two crewmen from a life raft and transferred them to the Coast Guard boat to take them back to Westport. There were no reports of injuries.

Petty Officer David Marin in Seattle said the Titan burned to the waterline. He said it was registered as a charter but working as a private commercial fishing vessel.

Less than four hours later, at 10:18 a.m., Coast Guard crews responded to a call from the 56-foot fishing boat Macard, which ran aground and was taking on water near the east end of the north jetty at Grays Harbor.

Two 47-foot Coast Guard motor lifeboats and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter were dispatched. The helicopter crew lowered a rescue swimmer and a pump to remove the water, while the boat crew awaited a high tide to try to free the vessel.