Two deputies placed on leave in connection to death of Grant County inmate

GRANT COUNTY, Wash. — The Grant County Sheriff says two corrections deputies are on leave while the death of an inmate is being investigated.

According to Sheriff Joe Kriete, the deputies were put on paid administrative leave January 2.

The incident occurred December 31 when 31-year-old Richard Lambert of Moses Lake was found unconscious and not breathing.

Lambert had been booked into the Grant County Sheriff’s Office on December 27 for second-degree trespassing and obstructing law enforcement.

The investigation is ongoing by the Central Basin Investigative Team headed by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Kriete says being placed on leave is not indicative of wrongdoing, and more information will be released as soon as it can.

COPYRIGHT 2025 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.