RICHLAND, Wash. – Friends and family of Jhoser Sanchez gathered near the Richland Police Department to demand justice for his death. Sanchez was killed in a car crash on March 1 involving off-duty state trooper Sarah Clasen.
Clasen was arrested the night of the incident but released on her own recognizance on March 3. Since then, no updates have been provided on the case.
Jose Garcia, one of Sanchez’s best friends, expressed his frustration at the protest.
“We just think it’s not fair. [Sarah Clasen] is just out. She can do what she want. She broke a family,” he said.
Garcia explained the purpose of the protest, emphasizing the need for justice.
“We were told that the court [date] was moved forward, but we haven’t, like, we haven’t found like a day. We haven’t found a place like; we just think that it’s not okay this this much time has passed already. We’re here because we want justice. We don’t think that’s right. Whether or not she was drinking, she took his life. And we just want justice for him,” he added.
Garcia shared the emotional impact of Sanchez’s sudden death, recalling the last time he saw him.
“The last day of [Jhoser Sanchez’s] life, he had invited us out to eat. He said that it was his turn to invite. So we all went out, and then two hours later, we got a call that he had passed away. After dropping us off back home, we were just in shock because we had just seen him. When we went to the family and we saw that like it was actually happening, like he had passed away in the hospital, heartbroken. That’s what we’re here for,” Garcia said.
The protestors, including Sanchez’s family and friends, plan to continue their advocacy efforts.
“For now, we’ve been trying to get it mostly online. We’re going to be doing this really often and until we know more information. But until then, we plan on having more of these, like, signs, get togethers. But as far as I know, that’s what we’re doing. We’re trying to get the media, and public to find out,” Garcia said
Special Prosecutor Larry Haskell is currently handling the case.
