The Sheriff’s Office said the case involves robbery, extortion, reckless driving and livestock theft.
PASCO, Wash. — The driver told deputies he picked up cattle from Coulee Flats Dairy and was heading to the livestock auction in Toppenish.
He said a Ford F-150 crossed the center line on Route 395, stopped in front of him and braked repeatedly until he exited the highway.
The driver stopped near Booker’s Auction House and got out to see what was going on, the report said.
He told deputies that Esquivel yelled at him in Spanish, prompting him to call his mother to translate.
The driver’s mother reportedly told deputies that Esquivel said he would return the trailer and cattle in exchange for $20,000.
The driver said he tried to get back into the semi, but Esquivel pushed him against the door, climbed into the driver’s seat and drove away with the truck, trailer and cattle, records show. The driver was not injured.
Esquivel later sent a video showing the truck and trailer while again demanding money, according to deputies.
Deputies said the semi-truck, trailer and cattle were later found in Pasco. Because of the hot weather, investigators said they were concerned about the health of the cattle inside the trailer.
Esquivel was arrested and booked into the Franklin County Jail.
