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

Thief drives off with truck, sleeping hostage

From Staff Reports

A thief who stole a newspaper delivery truck early Sunday got more than he bargained for: an unexpected hostage.

Spokane police say the wife of the delivery driver was sleeping in the back of the truck shortly before 2:30 a.m. and began screaming after realizing it had been stolen in the 300 block of West Garland Avenue. The thief reportedly slowed to let the woman jump out. She suffered minor injuries after being dumped to the street when the truck quickly accelerated.

The victim contacted police and family members, some of which later spotted the truck and were able to provide officers with a description of the thief. A short time later, police took 22-year-old Adrian B. Garcia into custody on charges of motor vehicle theft and unlawful imprisonment.