Abandoned front end leads to arrest

A Spokane Valley man was arrested after two dismantled cars were found at his home.

The incident started Sunday morning when Spokane Valley Police Officer Jeff Thurman found the front half of a blue Ford Probe sitting abandoned near the roadway in the 6300 block of East Mission Avenue. The 1989 Probe had been reported stolen, according to the Spokane Valley Police Department.

Inside the car were trash bags that appeared to have also been dumped, as well as miscellaneous engine parts, Police said.

Officer Thurman began looking through the garbage and found a name and address on North Vista Road.

Information there led police to Lee J. Smith, 42, 8409 E. Mission Ave. Smith denied leaving the garbage or car alongside the road, Police said.

Smith gave police permission to search his property, Police said. They found the back half of a Ford Probe with a vehicle identification number matching the one found earlier Sunday on East Mission Avenue, Police said.

Also, police found a maroon Nissan pickup that had been reported stolen. Two front fenders and front seats from the stolen truck had been installed in Smith’s truck, Police said.

Smith was arrested on two counts of allegedly possessing stolen property, a felony. He was booked into the Spokane County Jail.