Man arrested, facing murder charges after deadly assault in Tonasket on Saturday evening

A 57-year-old Tonasket man was assaulted and killed Saturday. Okanogan County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a suspect later that night.

Deputies responded about 6 p.m. to 319 South Whitcomb Ave. after hearing report of a man who had been assaulted and was covered in blood, according to a sheriff’s office statement.

The man was dead when deputies and first responders arrived.

Deputy Ricardo Covarrubias was familiar with the location because of previous calls and recognized the suspect, according to the news release.

At about 10 p.m., deputies arrested Antonio Mateo, 34, near Loomis, Washington. He was booked into Okanogan County Jail on a charge of first-degree murder.

The county coroner will identify the victim at a later date, the sheriff’s office said.