LA VOZ HISPANIC NEWS
La Voz Hispanic News • Developing Story • August 1, 2026
Sunnyside Councilwoman Keren Vazquez Arrested in Granger
Vazquez was released from the Yakima County Jail less than four hours after her reported arrest.
DEVELOPING STORY | AUGUST 1, 2026
Sunnyside City Councilwoman Keren Vazquez Arrested
Reporter David Cortinas and Staff-La Voz
GRANGER, WA. – Sunnyside City Councilwoman Keren J. Vazquez was arrested Friday evening in Granger, Sunnyside Police Chief Rob Layman confirmed Saturday morning to La Voz Hispanic News of the arrest.
Vazquez was reportedly taken into custody at approximately 5 p.m. on July 31.
Authorities from Granger Police Department confirmed on the arrest and confirmed that Vazquez was arrested in the Assault of the 4th degree Domestic Violence was the reason for the arrest,
the alleged offense or the circumstances that led officers to take her into custody, the authorities confirmed that the Councilwomen had a conflict with a male and the confrontation was confirmed that Vazquez was the aggressor and was taken into custody.
Yakima County jail records list Keren Jedida Vazquez, resident number 205880, as being released at 8:46 p.m. Friday, less than four hours after her reported arrest.
VAZQUEZ BOOKED INTO YAKIMA COUNTY JAIL
The arrest is also raising questions about why Vazquez was not booked into the Sunnyside Jail, despite Granger being located only a few miles from Sunnyside.
When La Voz asked Chief Rob Layman why the neighboring Granger Police Department did not use Sunnyside’s jail, he said only that he told Granger police they would have to find another option.
Vazquez was instead transported to the Yakima County Jail. Layman did not provide La Voz with any further explanation for declining the Sunnyside booking.
La Voz reporter contacted Mayor Vicky Fausto of Sunnyside of the arrest of her colleague Councilwomen Vazquez and said “I have no comment I have not read the full report, until I talk to Chief Layman and read the report I will then talk to the press, please respect this authority.“
LA VOZ HISPANIC NEWS
La Voz Hispanic News • Developing Story • August 1, 2026
Yakima County jail records show Keren Jedida Vazquez was released at 8:46 p.m. on July 31, 2026.
The arrest carries additional significance because Vazquez currently serves on the Sunnyside City Council’s Public Safety Subcommittee, which advises the council on matters involving police operations, fire services and emergency-management policies.
NOT VAQUEZ FIRST CONTROVERSY
Vazquez was elected to the Sunnyside City Council in November 2023 and began serving her first term in January 2024. She represents Council Position 5, with her current term scheduled to continue through 2027.
Her time in office has not been without controversy.
Records obtained by La Voz show that Sunnyside officials received a complaint in March 2025 alleging that Vazquez and members of her family were living inside a church on East Edison Avenue where her father served as pastor.
The complaint alleged that the church was being used as a residence despite not
being approved for residential occupancy. Sunnyside code-enforcement personnel investigated the allegations, and photographs taken inside the building appeared to show that portions of the church were being used as living quarters.
In an April 30, 2025 email included in the city’s records, a staff member reported that Vazquez’s father said the property had been sold and that the family was in the process of moving out. The employee indicated that an inspection might no longer be necessary if the family had vacated the building. No punitive action was ultimately taken. The complaint contained allegations and did not, by itself, establish that Vazquez or members of her family had violated city code.
As of Saturday morning, Vazquez had not publicly commented on her arrest. An arrest is not a conviction, and Vazquez is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
La Voz Hispanic News will continue working to obtain the police report, the reason for Vazquez’s arrest and any court records connected with this developing case.
Reporter David Cortinas can be contacted via telephone (509)539-2753 or via email lavoz@bmi.net
