UPDATE: Wanted felony sex offender taken into custody by Walla Walla police
UPDATE (December 15, 2021) — The Walla Walla Police Department announced Wednesday morning that 22-year-old Byron Joseph Graham was taken into custody.
Police say Graham was arrested Tuesday night in the Home Depot parking lot in College Place.
Graham led Walla Walla officers on a chase into the parking lot of Home Depot in College Place around 9:00 p.m. Tuesday.
Graham was booked into jail on a warrant for failing to register as a felony sex offender, resisting arrest, and eluding law enforcement, according to Walla Walla police.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Previous Coverage
WALLA WALLA, Wash. — A man who is wanted for failing to register as a felony sex offender evaded local police officers three times on Monday; leading them to ask for community support to locate him once more.
According to Sgt. Gunner Fulmer of the Walla Walla Police Department, officers attempted to arrest 22-year-old Byron Joseph Graham on three separate occasions on Monday, December 13.
The first altercation occurred around 8:40 a.m. on Monday morning when officers located the suspect on the 1000-block of W Elm St. Once officers attempted to make contact with him, Graham took off running and escaped their sights before they could bring him into custody.
READ: Armed robber bound victim to chair in his Walla Walla home, led police on foot chase
Roughly two hours later, the same officer spotted Graham driving on 13th St and tried to make a traffic stop. Authorities say that Graham took off at high speeds, forcing the officer to stop in adherence with recent WA state law.
Legislative changes to Washington’s criminal justice rules say that police are only allowed to pursue fleeing suspects who prove immediate threats to public safety.
The pursuing officer did not consider Graham to pose a present danger to the public, which led him to terminate his search.
RECENT: Suspect arrested after using BB gun in an attempt to steal semi-truck in Kennewick
Another officer eyed Graham about 10 minutes later and tried to stop him. However, Graham fled a third time; leading the WWPD officer to make the same decision to terminate their pursuit.
Walla Walla police investigators would appreciate the community’s help in locating Graham. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to call 911 or the WWPD’s non-emergency line at 509-527-1960.
RECENT HEADLINES FROM THE KAPP KVEW NEWS STAFF:
- Mail your Christmas list at Yakima’s drive-thru Letters to Santa event
- Police spread holiday cheer through ‘2021 Pasco Cops and Kids’ program
- Classic 1930s Ford totaled, driver injured off the Cable Bridge in Kennewick
- McElroy bridge collapse cuts water, access from Kittitas County housing development
- Wind Advisory — Tumbleweeds blockade Tri-Cities highways, semi trucks tip onto roadway Saturday
READ: Police arrest driver accused of critically injuring WW man in College Place
COPYRIGHT 2022 BY YAKTRINEWS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
