One arrested for July 4 shooting near Othello, rest of Basin relatively quiet

OTHELLO — An Othello-area man was booked on suspicion of first-degree assault following a shooting July 4 near Othello.

Jesse Alexandro Alcarez, 21, was arrested by Adams County Sheriff’s deputies, according to a press release from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office on Friday. The incident was reported at about 9 p.m. in the 600 block of Kaylee Road west of Othello.

The victim was transported to Othello Community Hospital.

Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner said Friday that the motive for the shooting was still under investigation. The continuing investigation led ACSO deputies to a nearby irrigation canal currently in use, which forced them to wade into the canal and retrieve potential evidence, according to a sheriff’s office release.

Most law enforcement agencies reported little activity on July 4, which is usually a busy day for law enforcement.

Moses Lake Police Department Chief Dave Sands said July 3 was pretty busy during the day, but July 4 was relatively uneventful.

“Honestly, the Fourth was not bad at all,” Sands said. “Nothing crazy.”

Soap Lake Police Chief Ryan Cox said SLPD had issued two citations for fireworks as of Friday afternoon. Cox said the SLPD received four complaints about fireworks and had one DUI on July 4.

The Quincy Police Department received three complaints about fireworks July 3 and 4, said QPD Captain Jorge Trujillo, two July 4. Othello had two fireworks complaints July 4, said OPD Detective Sergeant Brent McFarlane.