Dayton man sentenced after nearly causing crash with deputy

By Dan Thesman on Wednesday, June 11th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

COLUMBIA COUNTY – William Francis Kigerl Jr., 79, of Dayton, Washington, pleaded guilty June 4 in Columbia County Superior Court to reduced charges.

Kigerl was arrested on February 20 after nearly causing a crash with an off-duty deputy from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. He showed signs of intoxication and used foul language during a traffic investigation. Kigerl resisted arrest, attempted to bite a deputy, and tried to grab a firearm.

Columbia County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jennine Christensen reduced Kigerl’s charges to non-felony crimes of attempted unlawful display of a weapon, DUI, and resisting arrest, leading to two years of probation and ongoing substance disorder treatment.

Christensen added that Kigerl apologized to the deputies and said the deputy that Kigerl assaulted agreed with reducing the charges.