Transient arrested, van recovered

Spokane Valley police arrested a 24-year-old transient last weekend after he was stopped in a van that had been reported stolen from a woman staying at a local motel.

Sebastian L. Esquibel was charged with first-degree theft and served with three outstanding warrants – for possession of a controlled substance, second-degree theft and second-degree escape, police said.

About 8:40 a.m. Saturday, a woman staying at Red Top Motel on East Trent Avenue reported her van, $50 cash and her laptop computer were missing, said Spokane Valley Police spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan.

The woman told police that Esquibel had been in her room at the motel and asked to borrow her van, but she refused and went into another room, Reagan said. When she came back, her van, cash and computer were gone.

Shortly after 12:30 p.m. police located Esquibel at 800 E. Mission Ave. He was arrested and taken to Spokane County Jail.