Chelan County Arrest Records

An arrest entails taking someone under the control or custody of a legal authority such as a law enforcement agency. In Chelan County, a police officer can make a lawful arrest pursuant to an arrest warrant. Meanwhile, for a warrantless arrest to be lawful probable cause is required. Per RCW 10.31.100, a police officer may make a lawful arrest without a warrant if they have probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing a felony, misdemeanor, or gross misdemeanor.

Chelan County arrest records are official documents that contain information about individuals arrested within the county and the circumstances surrounding each arrest. The arresting agency typically generates these documents after an arrest. Arrest records are vital because they have numerous applications in different facets of government. For instance, arrest records are usually reported as Criminal History Records compiled by the Washington State Police. Arrest records are also reported in Chelan County Court Records, especially when the arrest leads to a criminal case.

Are Arrest Records Public in Chelan County?

Yes. Per RCW 42.56, also known as the Public Records Act, all information and records generated, owned, used, or retained by government agencies concerning the performance of their governmental or proprietary functions, like arrests, are considered public records. Hence, albeit with certain exceptions, arrest records are public in Chelan County pursuant to the statute.

However, certain arrest records are considered confidential and inaccessible to the general public. These confidential records are only releasable to eligible persons and entities or pursuant to a court order. Some examples of confidential arrest records include:

• Expunged or sealed arrest records
• Records whose disclosure would violate personal privacy or vital governmental interests per RCW 42.56.210
• Investigative records under RCW 42.56.240.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Information inquirers can expect to find in public arrest records in Chelan County includes:

• The arrestee’s mugshot
• The arrestee’s personal information, including their full name and date of birth
• The arrestee’s booking information;
  • Booking date and time
  • Booking number
• Arrest date and location
• The arresting agency's information
• Description of the alleged offense, including the applicable statute
• Case number

Chelan County Arrest Statistics

Data provided in the Crime in Washington (CIW) 2023 annual report shows that 1,817 adult arrests and 167 juvenile arrests were made in Chelan County in 2023, totaling 1,984 arrests. The report categorized arrest statistics into two (2) groups, arrests for group A offenses (1,122) and group B offenses (637). Some arrest Group A offenses with the highest number of arrests include simple assault, burglary, larceny-theft offenses, and drug/narcotic violations. Meanwhile, some notable group B offenses include DUI, trespass, and liquor law violations.

Find Chelan County Arrest Records

Record seekers can obtain Chelan County arrest records through local law enforcement agencies. The procedures for conducting arrest records search through these agencies can be broken down into the following steps:

• Step 1—Ascertain the agency responsible for the arrest: According to a publication by the Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs (WASPC), there are two local law enforcement agencies in Chelan County: the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office and the Wenatchee Police Department. The County Sheriff’s Office can make arrests anywhere within the county, while the Wenatchee Police Department primarily makes arrests within the city of Wenatchee.
• Step 2—Ascertain the arresting agency’s procedures for making arrest record requests: Each agency has a Records Division that accepts and processes record requests. Depending on how an agency’s Records Division operates, requests may be submitted in person, online, by mail, fax, or email. For instance, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office Record Division provides a dedicated record request form that record seekers can use to facilitate request records. Additionally, record seekers use the Chelan County Public Records Online Center to submit requests online.

Note that record seekers are usually required to supply information about the desired arrest record when making a record request to assist in identifying the record. These include the arrestee’s name, the date and location of the arrest, and any other additional information.

• Step 3—Submit a request and pay the relevant fees: if the arrest was made by the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office record seeker can complete the agency’s record request form and submit it by mail, fax, or email at;

Chelan County Sheriff’s Office
Attn: Records
P.O. Box 36
Wenatchee, WA 98801
Phone: (509) 667-6875
Fax: (509) 667-6860
Email: Sheriff.Records@co.chelan.wa.us

Alternatively, record seekers can make a walk-in request at the County Sheriff’s Office Records Division counter during business hours (Monday to Thursday, 9 am to 5 pm). The agency charges for copies of arrest reports they supply to requesters varies by the size of each page (i.e., $0.15 for 8.5′′ by 14′′ or less pages and $1.00 for 8.5′′ by 14′′ or greater pages). More information about relevant fees is available on the agency’s FAQ How To Make A Records Request page.

On the other hand, if the Wenatchee Police Department makes an arrest, record seekers can visit the agency’s record division in person to request arrest records. The agency's hours of operation are from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (Monday to Friday) and is located at:

140 South Mission
Wenatchee, WA 98801
Phone: (509) 888-4200

Free Arrest Record Search in Chelan County

Record seekers may inspect Chelan County arrest records for free in person at local law enforcement agencies. These agencies may not charge record seekers a fee for inspecting arrest records in person at their physical address. However, record seekers are usually charged for copies of arrest records they require from these agencies. It is worth noting that information about arrestees booked into Chelan County Jail in the last 24 hours is accessible for free through the Jail Registry / Inmate List. The registry is searchable by a subject’s last name or first name.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Chelan County, local law enforcement agencies retain arrest records indefinitely. The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) does not impose a specific timeframe for arrest records retention. However, Chelan arrest records reported to the Washington State Identification System (WASIS) are retained in the system until the subject of the record reaches 120 years.

Expunge Chelan County Arrest Records

Expungement is a legal process that deletes a specific record from criminal justice files that are available to the general public. In Washington, an arrest record can be eligible for expungement per RCW 10.97.060. The statute outlines eligibility requirements for records to qualify for expungement with the WSP.

Under RCW 10.97.060, non-conviction arrest records qualify for expungement if two (2) years have elapsed and a favorable disposition was entered against the defendant or three (3) years have passed for the arrest date. A “favorable disposition” includes any of the following:

• Dismissed
• Dropped
• No Charge Filed
• Not Guilty
• Prosecution Declined
• Released – No Charge
• Stricken
• Acquitted

Provided an arrest record meets the expungement eligibility requirements outlined in RCW 10.97.060, the subject of the record can apply for expungement through the WSP Criminal History Records Section. To do this, applicants can complete the WSP Request for Expungement/Deletion of Non-Conviction Records and mail it to:

Washington State Patrol
ATTN: Criminal History Records Section
P.O. Box 42633
Olympia WA 98504-2633

There is no fee for filing for expungement through the WSP. Furthermore the WSP can reject a request for expungement if:

• The disposition of the record to be expunged was a deferred prosecution or similar diversion
• The subject of the record to be expunged has had a prior conviction for a felony or gross misdemeanor
• During the intervening period, the subject of the record to be expunged has been arrested for or charged with another crime.

Note that the expungement process for arrest records through the WSP does not affect court records connected to the arrest. To expunge or seal these court records from public view, the court with appropriate jurisdiction over the case must be contacted.

Chelan County Arrest Warrants

A Chelan County arrest warrant is a court order directed to any peace officer commanding them to apprehend the individual named in the warrant. Per RCW 10.88.320 a magistrate or judge can issue an arrest warrant when a credible person files an affidavit that charges or accuses the subject of the warrant of committing a crime. The typical contents of an arrest warrant includes:

• Details about the alleged offense
• The warrant’s date and time of issuance
• Conditions of the warrant subject’s release, such as bail amount (if applicable)
• The issuing authority’s details.

The most convenient way to find active warrants in Chelan County is through the Washington State Department of Corrections Warrant Search Portal. The portal is accessible for free and searchable by a subject name, DOC number, crime, and county. Interested persons can also contact local courthouses and law enforcement agencies in Chelan County to inquire about active arrest warrants.

Do Chelan County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Chelan County arrest warrants do not expire and remain indefinitely active until the subject is arrested, turns themselves in, or dies. Nonetheless, the issuing authority can recall or rescind a warrant in some instances, including when the warrant was issued based on false information.