News bites for May 21, 2024

May 20—EPHRATA — An Ephrata man was arrested on suspicion of fourth-degree assault — domestic violence and making a bomb threat after portions of the neighborhood around the 10 block of K Street Northeast were evacuated Sunday night.

Nicholas Svetich, 49, was arrested Monday morning, according to a release from the Ephrata Police Department.

"Due to threats made by the suspect, neighbors were evacuated as a precaution," the release said. "Neighbors were notified they could return to their homes (Monday morning)."

OTHELLO — A former law enforcement agent who thought he was meeting an underage girl in Othello and instead found police officers waiting for him has been convicted of attempted online enticement of a minor, according to a statement from the Othello Police Department.

Koby Don Williams, 49, a former supervisory enforcement and removal officer with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office, was arrested in July 2022 at a hotel in Othello, the OPD wrote.

Williams had replied to a Craigslist ad that was part of an undercover law enforcement operation with the objective of identifying individuals interested in having sex with children, according to the statement. Williams chatted with "Rebecca," who he believed was a 13-year-old girl. Williams identified himself as a "cop" and the two discussed the rates she would charge for sex acts, and an arrangement to meet her for sex. On July 26, 2022, Williams arrived at the hotel and was met by an arrest team comprised of Toppenish and Moses Lake PD detectives.

Under a search of Williams and his government vehicle, detectives located his ICE badges and federal credentials, service pistols, two bottles of vodka, several bottles of prescription pills and $4,075 in cash, according to the statement