Citizens Help Capture Suspected Car Prowler

A group of citizens, including one armed with a baseball bat, helped Spokane County sheriff’s deputies capture a suspected car prowler Sunday.

Deputy Ron Hudson was driving through the Newport Cinemas parking lot about 7:30 p.m. when he spotted a group of people chasing a man, according to a press release.

Hudson reportedly used his patrol car to block the man’s path.

One of the citizens, whom sheriff’s deputies did not identify, told Hudson the chase started after he had caught Richard Bruce Royer removing the stereo from his car. Royer was captured once by the group, but escaped while the car’s owner went to call police.

Royer, 5104 N. Belt, was booked into Spokane County Jail on charges of second-degree theft and second-degree malicious mischief.