Thornton man arrested on assault, other charges

TRIBUNE

COLFAX - A 41-year-old Thornton man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly assaulting an 18-year-old woman.

Steven Ray Root was taken into custody on an outstanding federal warrant for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. He also faces potential charges of possession of methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a stolen firearm and second-degree assault.

The case began when the woman contacted the Whitman County Sheriff's Office saying she'd met Root in Spokane. She agreed to travel with him to Thornton and clean his house for $100. When they arrived, Root allegedly provided her with methamphetamine and other drugs, according to a sheriff's office news release.

The woman also told investigators she saw more drugs and firearms in the house. When she tried to leave, she said Root assaulted her, according to the news release.

Deputies contacted Root and arrested him on the outstanding warrant. A subsequent search of the home allegedly found about 90 grams of meth, three handguns, two rifles and drug paraphernalia.

A second man, 35-year-old Robert Grout of Spokane, was also contacted and arrested on a Spokane County warrant for second-degree criminal trespass.