Pasco suspect in machete assault arrested for gun possession, drugs

A Pasco man is behind bars after Benton County Sheriff deputies say he is a convicted felon and faces charges related to possession of guns and drugs.

Interim Sheriff Jerry Hatcher says the case started when they arrested a suspect wanted for narcotics delivery charges back in March at the 1200 block of W. 30^th Avenue in Kennewick. That investigation revealed members of a criminal gang lived and visited the location. One of those men was identified as 38-year-old Ramon Aguilar. 

Deputies say Aguilar is a known gang-member and could also be linked to an assault where he allegedly attacked another man with a machete back in February. Hatcher says in that case a witness watched Aguilar assault another man with a weapon and then he, another gang member and the victim, who is believed to be a gang-member left the area. Deputies say a residence surveillance system is believed to have recorded the assault.

"Those [involved in the assault] captured on the homeowner's video surveillance system, which he [Aguilar] later found out about and went back and took the hard drive of the computer," says Hatcher.

Hatcher says they located the hard drive at the warehouse off the 400 block of W. Columbia Street where the 38-year-old was arrested without incident on Monday and he could now face additional charges. Aguilar currently faces charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance (drugs), Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Possession of Stolen Property.