Local News

Two Fugitives Found Hiding Out in Riverside

Jun 13, 2014

Two fugitives who had been hiding out in Okanogan County were arrested Wednesday in an RV park in Riverside.

Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers said his deputies and members of the North Central Washington Narcotics Task Force made the arrests after learning about the two’s whereabouts on Monday.

Arrested were 34-year-old Benjamin Lee Johnson, of Mead Washington and 27-year-old Rachel A. Banks, of Spokane Washington.

Johnson was wanted on a nationwide extraditable warrant as a violent offender escaped from community custody for rioting with a deadly weapon. Banks was wanted on extraditable warrants for escaping from community custody, possession of a stolen vehicle and controlled substance possession.

Rogers said the two had been living in Riverside for the past month at an RV park and claimed to have recently moved to the area looking for work. He said his office had maintained surveillance on the two since Monday. He said on Wednesday officers observed the two leaving the RV Park at about 5:30 a.m. and followed them to the Tunk Valley area. He said when the truck they were in returned to Riverside an Okanogan County Sherriff’s Sergeant and two Task Force members conducted a stop on the vehicle and Benjamin Johnson was taken into custody.

Officers then returned to the area of Tunk Valley where it was believed Rachel Banks was dropped off. Rogers said, “When they arrived Banks tried to flee on foot but was apprehended after a short chase.”

He said officers with a search warrant, went through the RV following the arrests and discovered suspected heroin and methamphetamine.

The Sheriff said both Johnson and Banks have an extensive criminal history.