The sheriff’s office said the case involves robbery, extortion, reckless driving and livestock theft.
PASCO, Wash. — A Pasco man has been arrested after deputies said he took a semi and cattle trailer, demanded $20,000 for the cattle and later left the trailer with more than $23,000 in damage.
Clemente Gonzalez Esquivel Jr., 46, was arrested May 27 for investigation of first-degree robbery, first-degree extortion and reckless driving, according to Franklin County Sheriff’s Office records.
Deputies were called around 9:40 a.m. to Booker Auction on Eltopia West Road after Miguel Flores reported that someone had forced him out of the Freightliner semi he was driving and left with a cattle trailer attached.
The driver told deputies he had picked up cattle from Coulee Flats Dairy and was headed to a livestock auction in Toppenish.
He said a Ford F-150 crossed the median on U.S. 395, pulled in front of him and repeatedly braked until he exited the highway.
According to the report, the driver stopped near Booker Auction and got out to determine what was happening.
He told deputies that Esquivel yelled at him in Spanish, prompting him to call his mother to translate.
The driver’s mother told deputies that Esquivel said he would return the trailer and cattle in exchange for $20,000, according to the report.
The driver said he tried to get back into the semi-truck, but Esquivel shoved him into the door, climbed into the driver’s seat and drove away with the truck, trailer and cattle, records show. The driver was not injured.
Esquivel later sent a video showing the truck and trailer while again demanding money, according to deputies.
Deputies said the semi-truck, trailer and cattle were later found in Pasco. Because of the heat, investigators said they were concerned about the welfare of the cattle inside the trailer.
Esquivel was arrested and booked into the Franklin County Jail.
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