‘Retired’ Moses Lake Chief Apprehends Gun Threat Suspect at School

Gun threat suspect in Moses Lake (MLPD)

Apparently, you never stop being a policeman.

  Former Moses Lake Chief apprehends would-be gunman

Wednesday afternoon, the former Moses Lake  chief of police utilized his skills to prevent a potential issue with a gun.

Dave Ruffin, who is an instructor at CB Tech in Moses Lake, headed outside after two students informed him and others that a man had threatened them with a gun in the parking lot around 2 PM.  CB Tech is Moses Lake's version of our Tri-Tech Skills center.

According to the Moses Lake Police Department, Ruffing located the suspect, identified as 22-year-old Leonel Balderas-Mondragon, outside the school.  Mondragon had gone to pick up a relative at the school, and allegedly approached two people sitting in a car in the parking lot.  He displayed a handgun and threatened them.

The school was locked down as were other area locations.

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The suspect admitted having a weapon, and a 9 mm pistol was located in his car. He was quickly apprehended. According to MLPD:

 "Balderas-Mondragon was booked into the Grant County Jail on charges of felony threats, unlawful possession of a firearm on school grounds and unlawful display of a firearm."

Police have not said what the connection between the two victims and the suspect is, if any, and did not release any other information.