Charges filed in bizarre hit-and-run

OMAK – A bizarre car/pedestrian accident reported by the Omak Police Department in mid-March remains under investigation with the driver of the vehicle in the Okanogan County jail facing charges for vehicular assault, felony hit-and-run, and possibly others as both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Omak Police pursue the incident.

The FBI was brought into the case when the driver of a 2001 white GMC Sierra pickup was seen by witnesses as he struck a 23-year-old young woman in the 300 block Ferry Street in Omak. The injured victim was then loaded into the vehicle which fled the scene. Deputies from the Omak Police Department, Okanogan County Sheriff, and Colville Tribal Police joined in the search for the vehicle and victim.

According to the report released by Omak Police Chief Dan Christensen, a tribal police deputy located the vehicle on Cameron Lake Road on the Colville Reservation. The injured victim found in the vehicle was transported by Lifeline Ambulance to Mid-Valley Hospital for treatment of serious injuries before being flown to Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane for further treatment.

In accordance with Public Law 280 which outlines law enforcement jurisdictions on Indian land the FBI joined the investigation.

The investigation is still ongoing with charges by the FBI within their jurisdiction, and the criminal traffic charges being concurrent under PL280,” said Christensen. “The Omak Police Department will be filing charges for Vehicular Assault and Felony Hit and Run.”

Christensen added that Omak Police Department has not yet filed those charges pending the FBI charges and review.

“I received search warrant results from technology installed on the vehicle…and we are analyzing that data in our evidence processing,” Christensen said.

Christensen said that owing to the severity of the charges and the case complexity “we are filing by investigation.”

Meanwhile the suspect has been booked on unrelated charges while the additional charges are pending.

“Once our case is at the Okanogan County Prosecutor, I will release the report,” Christensen said.

The condition of the hit-and-run victim identified as Nichelle Brien-Hoops was not available at press time.