dumb criminals

KQ · 08-26-2019, 12:33 PM

Just goes to show you - don't go tootin' your own horn!

Trumpet blower faces 10 felony charges
August 25, 2019 8:27 pm

WALLA WALLA, Washington – Tomas Franco, 58, of Salem will be arraigned on 10 felony charges Monday afternoon. He was involved in a pursuit on Aug. 10 that damaged several Walla Walla Police Department vehicles, and has allegedly made threats against law enforcement including Police Chief Scott Bieber on social media.

“I’m hopeful that the prosecutor takes this seriously and prosecutes him to the full extent of the law,” Bieber said in an interview on Aug. 13.

Later that same day, Prosecuting Attorney Jim Nagle’s office filed 10 felony charges against Franco. He faces four counts of first-degree assault, one count of third-degree assault, two counts of first-degree malicious mischief, one count of second-degree malicious mischief, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, and witness intimidation.

The incident in question on Aug. 10 saw a WWPD officer making an arrest of a person on an outstanding warrant when Franco began circling the block, blowing a trumpet and yelling. He allegedly threatened to harm the officer, who had recently testified against the suspect.

Less than five hours after that incident, officers were dispatched to the 400 block of West Alder Street for a report of an intoxicated man being violent towards elders in the area. When officers arrived, they report that they observed Franco fleeing the area in his truck at a high rate of speed. While officers attempted to stop Franco, he failed to stop and led officers in a pursuit which crisscrossed Walla Walla.

Franco lost control of his truck after striking a chain link fence near Orchard Street and South Ninth Avenue, but not before crashing several police vehicles. A Taser was deployed, and Franco was subdued, handcuffed and taken into custody. At that time, it’s alleged that he attempted to bite an officer.

Franco is being held on $500,000 bail in Walla Walla County Jail.