New information released on officer related shooting
PASCO, Wash. — UPDATE: Franklin County Coroner identified 28-year-old Pasco man Dante Redmond Jones as the driver who died Monday morning.
Three sheriff's deputies are on administrative leave after being treated for minor injuries at an area hospital after a deputy involved shooting that happened after 3am on Monday according to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff Raymond said in a press release Monday afternoon that the deputies have been released from the hospital and will stay on administrative leave while facts and circumstances of this incident are sorted out.
"The vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed so they engaged the vehicle trying to stop the vehicle," said Sheriff Raymond.
The deputies involved were identified at the press conference as Sergeant Gordon Thomasson, Deputy Andrew Gardner and Deputy Cody Quantrell.
A short time after the three deputies responded to a suspicious vehicle prowling in the area of Sagehill and Ridgeview Road early Monday morning, they encountered a vehicle traveling northbound on Sagehill Road at what police are saying a high rate of speed.
"You could say that, they had mostly cuts and bruises," said Sheriff Raymond about the injuries the deputies had.
The deputies then pursued the vehicle according to police.
One of the deputies attempted to make contact in the area of R-170 and Davis Lane with the fleeing driver, Dante Jones.
According to the press release, no other details are are known except that one of the deputies reports shots being fired.
From here, Jones fled the area of R-170 and Davis Lane and all three deputies were pursuing the the vehicle at what police are saying was a high rate of speed north of R-170.
Franklin County Sheriff Command Staff says this is when Jones drove out into the middle of a field near Sagehill and Wahluke.
Deputies report a collision between Jones's vehicle and a Franklin County Patrol vehicle in the field.
According to police, deputies administered first aid to Jones and he was then put in a volunteer ambulance and transported from the scene.
Jones died from his injuries according to the press release.
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office has turned the investigation over to the Special Investigation Unit and Coroner according to the Franklin County Sheriff Command Staff.
"It is going to be chaotic. It's going to be confusing with everything taking place it takes a little bit to get that all sorted out and put together," Sheriff Raymond.
