Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Raids net drugs, stolen property

Seven arrests made in monthslong probe

An interstate fuel theft investigation unveiled hundreds of pieces of suspected stolen property Tuesday after law enforcement arrested seven people and seized heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine.

Law enforcement raided five places early Tuesday that Spokane County Sheriff’s detectives say could be connected to more than 100 unsolved burglaries and vehicle prowlings in the county.

Detectives rented a moving truck to haul suspected stolen property from a rented garage in the 6000 block of East Clements Lane northeast of Spokane.

The investigation began in November when Sgt. John Nowels used a computer database to track what he suspected was a trend in commercial burglaries and fuel thefts. About that same time, Coeur d’Alene police named a suspect in fuel thefts, who Spokane detectives believe is connected to the suspects recently arrested, including Cole T. Monson, 36.

“These people have been very active for a long time,” said Sgt. Dave Reagan.

Monson, a suspect in a federal investigation involving counterfeit money, was arrested at the scene of a burglary March 18 and reportedly confessed to 20 other break-ins. Detectives learned Monson and accomplices traded stolen property at different locations.

When detectives the next day went to one of those homes, in the 600 block of South Michigan Street, they found a stolen Honda.

The home’s resident, Terri L. Gunderson, 36, faces charges for 2 ounces of suspected methamphetamine and stolen property. She has not been arrested.

Arrested early Tuesday at 19200 E. Boone Ave. was 48-year-old John W. Rose and 46-year-old Mona Lee Bearshears.

Mark William Bush, 35, was arrested at a home in the 7900 block of East Harrington Avenue, along with Meagan R. Jarrett, 24; Tami L. Burgess, 35; and Timothy E. Swecker, 34.

Other stolen property was located in a storage unit at 500 E. Foothills Drive and in a storage trailer at 4300 E. Joseph Ave.

Detectives will look through recent burglaries and vehicle prowlings to contact victims about the recovered property, Reagan said.