Press Release Walla Walla Police Department

****PRESS RELEASE****WALLA WALLA POLICE DEPT****

Police Searching for Suspect in Vehicular Assault

January 22, 2016

Walla Walla Police have probable cause to arrest Kyle Zenk, 20, transient from Waitsburg, for a collision yesterday morning near the intersection of Park Street and Cherry Street.

Officers were dispatched to the area at 7:29 a.m. for a report of a one vehicle collision. Upon arrival, officers found the vehicle, a 1994, Honda Accord, crashed into a tree. A 15-year-old female passenger was still with the vehicle. She suffered lacerations and blunt force trauma to her face, head, and neck after her head went partially through the windshield during the crash. Zenk fled on foot prior to officers' arrival.

Prior to the crash, Zenk allegedly punched the girl in the face after she refused his sexual advances. He then accelerated rapidly northbound on Park Street and took his hands off the steering wheel. The vehicle went off the roadway and struck a tree southwest of the intersection of Park and Cherry Streets.

A short time later, a subject who identified himself as Zenk, called 9-1-1 to report his vehicle had been stolen and that he was at the Circle K convenience store. About 4 minutes later, a citizen called to report that a subject matching Zenk's clothing description had climbed over his fence on Alvarado Terrace, which is about 1 1⁄2 miles away from Circle K. An officer collected a wallet near the fence that contained identification belonging to Zenk.

A probable cause affidavit for Zenk's arrest includes the charges of Vehicular Assault 2nd (Class B felony), Hit and Run Attended (Class C Felony), and Gross Misdemeanor charges of Reckless Endangerment 2nd Degree, False Reporting, and Assault 4th Degree.

Anyone with information on Zenk's whereabouts is urged to call Detectives at (509) 527-1960.

Tim Bennett #245

Public Information Officer

Walla Walla Police Dept.

(509)524-4381

###