Crime-Spree Suspect Arrested

Thu., June 29, 2000

By Carlos Acevedo carlosa@spokesman.com

Cheney police say more than 45 criminal cases may have been solved with the capture of one Spokane man. They believe a man arrested in Spokane two weeks ago is connected with the theft of more than $20,000 worth of property from Cheney residents during a two-month crime spree that included car break-ins, car thefts and residential burglaries.

Cheney police believe others are involved in the crimes, and police have not released the man’s name until their investigation is complete.

In a normal week, the 8,545-resident college town experiences one or two car break-ins. But in the past two months, police received reports of 40 car break-ins. Another four vehicles were stolen. “That’s more than we’ve seen in five years,” said Detective Rick Campbell.

Most of those cases were in the Willowwood, Cheney Gardens and 2400 University Lane apartment complexes. The man may also be responsible for two home burglaries in Cheney and 100 cases of theft that Spokane police are investigating, Campbell said.

The man was linked to the Cheney crimes after Spokane police arrested him June 19 for alleged possession of a car stolen in Spokane. According to police documents, the man was unloading stolen property from the car into his West Second Avenue home when police arrested him. Inside the car, police found checkbooks of Cheney residents.

Spokane police informed Campbell of the checks, and the two departments searched the man’s home. Inside, they found items reported stolen in Spokane, Medical Lake and Airway Heights, and about one third of the property reported stolen in Cheney. Items found included radios, close to 1,000 CDs, tools, clothes and fishing gear. Police also found firearms, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Cheney police say the man is suspected of stealing four cars in Cheney since April.

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