Former Pasco Cop Arrested for Murder of Spokane Prostitute in 1986

Based upon evidence obtained during an investigation linked to DNA, a former Pasco police officer has been arrested by Spokane authorities and is facing murder charges.

Former officer Richard Aguirre, 50, who was a detective and once won policeman of the year  in Pasco, was taken into custody Tuesday by three Spokane police officers who were in Franklin County Court.

His attorney says Aguirre was charged with first-degree murder.  Aguirre had been in court on an unrelated rape charge stemming from an incident last November. Aguirre had recently resigned from the force after the rape allegations.

DNA taken from Aguirre during the rape investigation produced a "hit" or match in CODIS that linked him to the 1986 murder of Spokane prostitute Ruby Doss.  Some news reports have indicated Aguirre and Doss may have had some sort of relationship during that time, when he was stationed at Fairchild Air Force base.

Spokane police are also investigating whether Aguirre may be related to similar slayings of women that occurred in that city in the late 1980's.  Aguirre reportedly left Spokane around 1987, before being hired as a patrolman in Pasco in 1988.

His attorney says due to a possible previous "history" between Aguirre and Doss, it's not surprising his DNA was found on her at the crime scene, but says his client is not responsible for her -or any other woman's - murder.

Aguirre has also been accused to sexual assault on a woman at his Pasco home last November.