Washington Farmer Holds Suspected Thieves at Gunpoint Until Deputies Arrive
In a recent incident on a farm in Quincy, Washington, a vigilant farmer put a halt to two suspected thieves by holding them at gunpoint until local deputies could respond to the situation. Grant County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kyle Foreman shared that responsible gun owners in Grant County often use their firearms to protect their property and then alert law enforcement for further investigation.
Last Saturday, around 7 p.m., deputies received a call reporting two individuals suspected of burglary on a farm in Quincy. The suspects were allegedly targeting two farm shops on the property when the farmer intervened.
The property owner, who remains unidentified, drew his firearm and effectively detained the suspects until law enforcement arrived on the scene.
The responding deputies promptly arrested the two suspects, identified as 45-year-old Glenn Richard of Quincy and 28-year-old Jesus Rangel of Mattawa, on burglary charges. The sheriff’s office confirmed the suspects’ involvement through matching shoeprints found inside the shops, and a box of stolen property was discovered outside the scene.
Under Washington law, citizens may use force to detain someone who enters or remains unlawfully on their property, as long as the detention is reasonable in duration and manner for investigating the intruder’s presence. This practice falls within the boundaries of the Second Amendment rights.
The apprehended suspects were subsequently transported to Grant County Jail. Such incidents, where property owners exercise their rights to protect their land, underscore the importance of responsible gun ownership in the region.
This case serves as a reminder that law-abiding citizens can play a role in safeguarding their communities by acting within the legal framework to deter criminal activities.