Stranded SUV leads to stolen goods
A drug and stolen property crime spree was uncovered this week when a Spokane County sheriff’s deputy stopped to check on a stranded SUV.
Investigators think 24-year-old Yan Yefremov – who had been out of jail on bail in another case – and James W. Peterschick, 28, were exchanging stolen property for drugs at an East Nebraska Avenue residence, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday.
The men were arrested after deputies found a Ford Explorer with its hazard lights flashing on U.S. Highway 195 near Plaza.
A note on the steering wheel of the Explorer addressed to “Danny” said “Heather” had gone for gas.
A woman approaching the car carrying a gas can denied being Heather and gave false names, but deputies determined she was 27-year-old Heather I. Halseth, wanted on a felony warrant.
Deputies believe Halseth accompanied Yefremov and Peterschick to the Washington State University campus earlier that day, where they stole the Explorer, a 1982 Honda and ransacked several vehicles of laptop computers and other valuables, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“Halseth also said that within the last two weeks, Yefremov held a handgun to her head and threatened her life if she ever told police about his activities,” according to court documents.
Investigators arrested Yefremov and Peterschick after they drove up to Misty Maus’ home, 814 E. Nebraska Ave., in the stolen Honda, the Sheriff’s Office said.
More than 100 pieces of evidence were seized from Maus’ home, according to the Sheriff’s Office, including a stolen motorcycle, stolen license plates and stolen laptops, one of which had been stolen in the Pullman car prowlings early Tuesday.
Yefremov and Peterschick appeared in Spokane County Superior Court Wednesday and remain in jail. Police say they had been living with Maus, 47, at the East Nebraska home.
Yefremov has a lengthy criminal record and was arrested in December, accused of smash-and-grab burglaries at Pawn One, 3705 N. Market St., and Pounders Jewelry, 3131 N. Division St.
In those cases, he and Aleksey Y. Solodyankin, 30, are accused of using stolen vehicles to try to break through the buildings.