KENNEWICK — A Kennewick detective has been honored for working tirelessly to track down a serial rapist who preyed on women who couldn’t fight back.
Detective Liz Grant’s work in catching Brandon L. Jones after he attacked 10 sex workers earned her the U.S. Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing.
She was one of only three officers in the nation to receive the award in the category of criminal investigations.
The award recognizes officers who show dedication to strengthening trust, promoting community engagement and enhancing public safety.
The investigation led to the prosecution of the former Tri-Cities activist, and a 226-year prison term for 11 counts of first-degree rape, six counts of first-degree robbery and 4 charges of attempted first-degree robbery.
Grant’s ability and dedication to working with the 10 women involved, most of who were raped by Jones, had a powerful impact on the Tri-Cities, said Vanessa Waldref, the U.S. Attorney for Eastern Washington.
“Through her skill, compassion, and work ethic, she builds trust with victims and delivers impressive case results in the courtroom,” Waldref said. “Detective Grant’s engagement with her community makes it a safer and strong place to live. I extend my heartfelt congratulations for this well-deserved recognition.”
Grant declined to be interviewed by the Tri-City Herald about the award, but she told Kennewick Commander Isaac Merkl that she was honored to receive it.
“She’s a great example for anyone who wants to get into law enforcement for how to do the job,” Merkl said. “She is an excellent investigator without whom that case would not have been solved if not for her approach.”
Grant, who has been named both Kennewick officer and detective of the year, started work in Kennewick in 2009, and is currently a detective in the major crimes division.
Anita Petra, the Benton County deputy prosecutor who handled the Jones case, said Grant’s compassion and tenacity were instrumental.
“Detective Grant gave a voice to the voiceless, victims who are routinely afraid to speak to law enforcement. Once victims learned they would be treated with compassion additional victims reached out to Detective Grant to seek justice.,” Petra told the Tri-City Herald. “Her work in this case was inspiring to me as a prosecutor.”
Brandon Jones case
Jones was a leader of one of the three Black Lives Matter groups in the Tri-Cities during the 2020 protests following the murder of George Floyd.. He held himself up as a defender of people who didn’t have a voice.
But after the protests died down, Jones started terrorizing women who used a website that allows escorts to post ads.
Petra said he chose the women because they were the least likely to report the attacks.
In each of the 12 attacks from August 2020 to 2022, Jones scheduled a meeting with the woman in a motel room, in his car or once at a home.
Many of the victims testified that he pressed a gun against them as he raped them. Two were raped twice. At least one overdosed from drugs taken after the attack.
Later, he also joined an internet forum discussion where escorts shared information and tried to discourage one of his victims from calling the police.
He was caught in May 2022 after he attacked a woman in a Clearwater Avenue parking lot and she went to police, leading to several more women coming forward.
Grant led efforts to find 10 victims and testified during a three-week trial in March 2024.
Jones has maintained his innocence.
