One person arrested after stealing car, shooting at vehicle’s owner
By Dan Thesman on Friday, April 1st, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
ELTOPIA – An Othello man was arrested Friday after he allegedly stole a car and fired a handgun at the car’s owner who was following behind. It all started around 7 a.m. when a resident of Othello observed his vehicle being stolen from his driveway.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said the vehicle’s owner decided to call 911. Deputies from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office were able to catch up to the stolen vehicle, but not before it entered Franklin County.
In the area of Hendricks and Scootney Road, the stolen vehicle driver, later identified at Tony Orlando Cantu, 45, abruptly stopped, exited the vehicle with a handgun and began firing upon the owner of the stolen vehicle who was following Cantu. The vehicle’s owner was not hit or injured in the reckless gunfire. Cantu then jumped back into the stolen vehicle and sped off onto Highway 17 and eventually onto southbound Highway 395.
Deputies from both Franklin and Adams counties pursued the stolen car and now felony assault suspect shortly after the shooting incident. It was reported that the suspect vehicle exceeded 100 miles per hour on Highway 395. Cantu and the stolen vehicle eventually slowed to a stop on the side of Highway 395 at Eltopia-West. Cantu stuck both hands out of the car window and surrendered to deputies without incident. It is believed the stolen vehicle ran out of gas.
Cantu was booked into the Franklin County Jail for various felony charges which include stolen property, eluding, and felony assault.
According to Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner, the vehicle Cantu stole was one of three stolen out of Othello in the past 24 hours.
Photo of stolen car via Adams County Sheriff’s Office
