Local News

Omak Man Arrested for Assault

Okanogan County Sheriff Tony Hawley

Jun 29, 2020

On Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at about 8:28pm Okanogan County Sheriff’s Deputies Tapia and Barcus contacted Valentino Johnson, 53-year-old male (Omak) in the parking lot of Valley Lanes Bowling in Omak. They observed he had severe facial injuries consistent with being assaulted. They also observed he was having trouble communicating due to his injuries and high level of intoxication. Deputy Barcus observed Mr. Johnson’s left eye was severely swollen with blood covering his face and clothing.

The deputies summoned Lifeline Ambulance to respond to the location to get him necessary medical care. During their investigation, Deputy Barcus was made aware Mr. Johnson had not accepted medical care when he was initially contacted at Walmart. Deputy Barcus was also aware from her previous contacts with Mr. Johnson that he is currently homeless. Deputy Barcus took the needed measures to place Mr. Johnson into protective custody as he was unable to care for himself and making comments about injuring himself. Mr. Johnson was transported to Mid Valley Hospital Emergency Room. He was later transported to Harborview Medical Center due to the severity of his head injuries.

Deputy Barcus continued her investigation and was able to obtain security camera footage from Walmart where Mr. Johnson had been contacted around 1730hrs on June24, 2020. Mr. Johnson was observed in the “smokers shack” on the northwest side of Walmart vomiting into a trash can by an employee about 5:22pm. The employee left the area to locate store security. The surveillance video shows a vehicle with two males arrive. One of the males is seen going into the “smokers shack”, but exiting prior to store security returning. The employee returned to the “smokers shack” with store security at about 5:28pm. When they returned, Mr. Johnson had multiple injuries.

Deputy Barcus was able to identify Jay Sellars, 45 year old male (Omak) as the male who entered the “smokers shack” when Mr. Johnson was assaulted. Sellars is seen in the video standing near Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson is seen on the ground when Sellars exits the “smokers shack”. Sellars and the other male are observed entering Walmart after the assault.

On Thursday, June 25, 2020 at about 8:00pm Deputy Tapia located Sellars on SR 97 near the Tribal Trails convenience store. Sellars was arrested for Assault in the 2^nd Degree and booked into Okanogan County Jail. He is currently held on 100,000 bail.