Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
PULLMAN — A Washington State University student faces first-degree extortion charges in Whitman County Superior Court following allegations from her former partner.
Taylor Asante, 21, of Pullman, is accused of threatening to damage Ethan Reynolds’ phone if he did not pay $80 for its return, court records show. The charge stems from a Sept. 13, 2023, incident, records show. Reynolds reported the alleged extortion to police.
According to court documents, Reynolds and Asante had been in a brief romantic relationship that began in August 2023.
Reynolds claimed that after drinking some of Asante’s vodka, she demanded reimbursement, records show. When Reynolds sought to retrieve his phone, which Asante had taken, she reportedly threatened to damage it and demanded payment.
The dispute escalated when Asante allegedly moved Reynolds’ phone toward a washing machine and dryer in a laundry room and later dangled it over a stairwell railing on the 12th floor of their university residence hall, records show. Reynolds eventually left, but managed to contact Asante through social media.
In a separate incident, Asante was arrested Oct. 1, 2023, by police for allegedly threatening and pursuing students with a knife inside a dormitory.
Olivia Harnack is a Journalist at the Whitman County Gazette. Olivia is enrolled at University of Idaho and is majoring in digital film studies. She serves in the United States Army National Guard and is proud to serve Whitman County.
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