Vehicular Assault Suspect Arrested

WALLA WALLA – The Walla Walla Police Department reported Monday that they have arrested 20-year-old Kyle Zenk, of Waitsburg, on felony charges of vehicular assault and hit and run, along with several misdemeanor charges, after an incident in which a 15-year-old female passenger in his car was injured.

According to the WWPD, Zenk was arrested at a friend's home in Waitsburg Sunday night without incident. He "was tracked down by the new Career Criminal Apprehension Team (CCAT) of the Walla Walla Police Department," the report said.

Authorities had been searching for Zenk since Thursday morning after he fled the scene of a crash near the intersection of Park and Cherry Streets in Walla Walla.

A press release issued Friday by the WWPD described the incident:

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.

Also, according to the release, Zenk called 911 shortly after the crash and reported that his car had been stolen from a convenience store. Shortly thereafter, officers found a wallet containing Zenk's identification after a neighbor reported someone scaling his fence.

According to news reports, Zenk was booked into Walla Walla County Jail Sunday night, awaiting his first appearance in Walla Walla County Superior Court.