The Office of the Washington state Auditor (SAO) on Thursday released its first audit report of cases investigated by the Office of Independent Investigations (OII), finding the state agency largely compliant in its handling of a fatal 2025 officer-involved shooting in Centralia.
OII began investigating the case after now-retired Centralia police officer Ruben Ramirez shot and killed Alecandro Castaneda on Jan. 12, 2025, following a physical altercation in which Castaneda refused to step outside an apartment complex after being told he was under arrest.
After concluding its investigation, OII sent its report detailing evidence from the scene, 911 calls, officer body cameras and interviews to the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office.
Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer announced he would not file charges against Ramirez in a letter to OII in August 2025.
In its report, the auditor’s office said OII “complied with most requirements to ensure the investigation of Alecandro Castaneda’s death was fair, thorough and transparent, as state laws and OII policies require.”
“These actions included, but were not limited to, communicating with Castaneda’s family throughout the investigation, canvassing the area for witnesses, and issuing public updates that described the shooting, named the involved officers and notified the public when the case was completed,” the auditor’s office said in its report.
The office did find instances where the agency failed to properly assess potential conflicts of interest in a timely manner, saying OII failed to require its director and three crime scene specialists to complete a conflict of interest form.
The office said OII also failed to require one investigator to complete a new form “as the investigation expanded to encompass more people,” saying the investigator should have completed the form “within 24 hours of identifying a potential conflict of interest.”
In a Thursday news release, OII said it was “taking steps to strengthen these practices and make sure staff follow all required policies and procedures.”
“The work of this agency is serious and often involves circumstances marked by profound loss and grief. We recognize that behind every investigation is a person, a family, and a community affected by loss,” OII Interim Director Jane Nesbitt said in the release. “I am proud of the many ways our entire staff contributes to this important work and of their shared commitment to treating every person and family with dignity, conducting our work with fairness and integrity, and maintaining the highest standards of accountability and transparency.”
Nesbitt continued, “This audit reflects the work of those directly involved in the investigation as well as the collective commitment of our entire agency to continuous improvement, meaningful communication, and serving the public with compassion and respect.”
State Auditor Pat McCarthy said in a news release Thursday that audits, like OII itself, are “part of Washington’s robust accountability framework for police use of deadly force.”
“We look forward to a constructive relationship with the office, providing insights that will help it improve its processes and assure the public these investigations are held to the highest standards,” McCarthy said.
OII was created by the state Legislature in 2021 to conduct independent investigations of deadly uses of force by police. The office began its work in the southwestern part of the state.
The fatal shooting of Castaneda was the agency’s second case since becoming operational on Dec. 1, 2024. OII has completed five investigations and has nine open investigations.
The SAO has published 131 reports reviewing use of deadly force investigations since 2022. Thursday’s report marked its first audit of an OII investigation.
According to OII’s 61-page final case report, Ramirez had arrived at the scene to investigate a reported domestic disturbance. The caller said Castaneda had pushed her and was breaking doors in the apartment. She said she was pregnant and her 6-year-old son was in the home.
After Castaneda pulled away from Ramirez and retreated into the bedroom, Ramirez drew his Taser and ordered Castaneda to the ground. Castaneda instead initiated a physical encounter. A struggle ensued. Officer Ramirez either fell or was pushed to the floor.
Reviewing body camera footage, investigators wrote that a shot was heard “approximately eight seconds from the time Castaneda appeared to swipe at Officer Ramirez’s Taser and the physical altercation began.” A second shot came moments later.
Ramirez reported “shots fired” on the radio just after the second gunshot. Another officer arrived at the scene shortly thereafter and assisted Ramirez in attempting to render aid to Castaneda.
Medics pronounced Castaneda dead at the scene.
OII was notified of the incident about 21 minutes after Ramirez reported that shots had been fired. Members of the investigative team assumed authority over the incident that day.
Ramirez was subsequently placed on leave, per department policy.
His previously-planned retirement came later that month.
Ramirez resigned as a reserve officer with the Centralia Police Department on Oct. 5.
To view the complete audit report, visit https://tinyurl.com/4y2fn9mx.
