Witnesses sought in Riverside shooting, officers invovled in shooting named

RIVERSIDE - The North Central Washington Special Investigation Unit continues to seek additional witnesses and/or evidence related to the officer involved shooting on Tuesday, March 3 at approximately 11:30 a.m.  The shooting occurred near Riverside Grocery in the 100 block of Main Street in Riverside, in Okanogan County.  

SIU Investigators have reviewed all available video footage.  We are seeking to interview four potential witnesses that were seen in the video.  There were three subjects, two female and one male, associated with a Subaru parked near the gas pumps at the time of the shooting.  Also there was another male witness associated with a Jeep SUV who was seen leaving the store at the time of the shooting.  He was initially contacted by involved officers but not identified.    

Again, the SIU is asking any additional witnesses or those who may have images or videos that have not been contacted by an SIU investigator to call Wenatchee Police Department Sergeant Nathan Hahn at (509) 888-4251.
Officers named
An Okanogan County Deputy received information through a cooperating citizen that Ryan E. Bass, 39 from Okanogan County, was near Riverside Grocery in the 100 block of North Main Street in Riverside, WA.  Bass had several confirmed warrants including a felony warrant out of Okanogan County Superior Court for failing to appear.  There was also probable cause to arrest Bass for a recent burglary in Omak.  Shortly after 11:30 a.m. Okanogan County Deputies and an Omak Police Detective located Bass inside a vehicle that was parked in front of the store.  Bass exited the vehicle and he allegedly presented a firearm and shot several rounds towards the officers.  Two Deputies and the Omak Detective returned fire striking Bass.  Bass was struck multiple times during the exchange and later died at the Mid Valley hospital.  Officers on scene and responding officers performed CPR and attempted other lifesaving measures on Bass until relieved by EMS.  

Deputy Jody Barcus and Deputy Justin Malone both with the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office,  and Omak Police Detective Brian Bowling fired at Bass.  Deputy Barcus has 2.5 years with Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office and 10.5 years of LE experience.  Deputy Malone has been with the Sheriff’s Office for 8 months.  Detective Bowling has been with the Omak Police Department for 7 years.  The Deputies and Detective remain on administrative leave as a standard procedure in this type of incident.

The officer-involved shooting portion of this incident is being independently investigated by the North Central Washington Special Investigation Unit.  This is a multi-jurisdictional team with Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, East Wenatchee Police Department, Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office, Wenatchee Police Department, and the Washington State Patrol.  Washington State Patrol is the lead agency for this incident.