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

License plates expire, so does driver’s luck

The Spokesman-Review

Police stopped a Spokane Valley man Monday morning after noticing his Ford Bronco had expired license plates, then found he was wanted on escape charges.

The vehicle was spotted near Julia and Sprague at 2 a.m., said police spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan in a news release. The officer soon learned that there was a Department of Corrections arrest warrant in the name of the driver, 30-year-old Andrew J. Theis. The warrant charged him with escape from community custody.

Theis, of 2216 S. Fawn Road, was arrested. Police later found drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine in the vehicle’s glove box, Reagan said. Theis was charged with possession of meth.

Pipe problems

Police pulled over a driver for having a defective exhaust system on his Geo Storm early Monday near Sargent and Michielli. The officer was going to let the driver off with a warning until he spotted drug paraphernalia in the car, said police spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan in a news release.

The man, identified as 19-year-old Richard A. Bell, reportedly admitted that he had methamphetamine and marijuana in his pockets, Reagan said. Bell, 14008 E. Desmet Ave., was arrested on charges of possession of meth and possession of marijuana.

In hindsight, a bad idea

Police cited an unlicensed driver early Sunday and arrested her passenger on charges of drug possession.

Police stopped an Oldsmobile near Fancher and Valleyway because it had a broken taillight, said police spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan. After discovering that the driver, identified as 26-year-old Amber R. Garfield, did not have a license, she was detained. The officers had the passenger sit nearby, but then noticed the man trying to put something in a fast food bag, Reagan said.

When the officers investigated, they found methamphetamine and a small baggie of black tar heroin at his feet, Reagan said. Electronic scales were also reportedly found in the car. The passenger, 54-year-old transient Laurence I. Jones, was arrested and charged with possession of meth and possession of heroin.

Garfield was cited for driving without a valid operator’s license.