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

Police-issue AR-15 rifle stolen from off-duty officer’s personal vehicle

One of the Spokane Police Department’s assault-style AR-15 rifles was stolen from an off-duty officer’s personal vehicle last month, and an investigation has led to an arrest in the case. Authorities are conducting a criminal probe into the theft, said Spokane Police Officer Teresa Fuller, and an internal affairs investigation into whether there were any policy violations surrounding the loss of the high-powered weapon. The gun had not been recovered as of Tuesday afternoon, although Fuller said investigators were following leads. Officers of the Targeted Crimes Unit arrested Cody A. Dewitt, 21, in connection with the theft on June 29. He is facing charges second-degree theft of a firearm and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm in addition to facing a warrant from the state corrections department. Fuller said the theft occurred on June 20 in a parking area at Riverside State Park. The officer, who was not identified, went for a walk with a friend for about 20 minutes, and had concealed the department-issue rifle from being seen from outside the truck. The officer was scheduled to work that evening following the walk, which is why the weapon was in his personal vehicle, Fuller said in a news release. The truck was locked, but the officer discovered a window broken and the weapon taken when he returned. “The criminal investigation is ongoing and officers are actively following up on leads as they develop information in this case,” Fuller said.