Man attempts to recover his stolen van
A Spokane Valley man tried to recover his own stolen van Monday and catch a thief, but his efforts were thwarted by a mailbox.
He retrieved his van after it was crashed into a mailbox, but the thief ran away on foot, said Spokane Valley police spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan. The car thief was described as in his 30s, between 5 feet, 10 inches and 6 feet tall, very skinny with long dark brown or black hair.
The victim’s 1984 Chevrolet van was stolen sometime Saturday, Reagan said. The man decided to take Monday off work and look for it.
He was waiting at a red light about 5:30 p.m. near 34th Avenue and University Road when he saw the van stopped two vehicles ahead. The van owner ran up to the vehicle, opened the door and started grabbing at the keys and trying to put the van in park.
The suspect “went crazy,” Reagan said. He started screaming and flailing his arms, then drove off in the van with the man hanging onto the door. The driver crashed into a mailbox between 28th and 24th avenues and the victim fell from the van.
The suspect abandoned the van about a block away, Reagan said. Despite police efforts, he was not found.
Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call 242-8477.
Woman finds burglars familiar
A Spokane Valley woman returned home Tuesday to discover two acquaintances carrying her belongings to their car without her consent.
The 36-year-old woman was able to provide excellent descriptions and names after she called police to report a burglary in progress, Reagan said.
Cephus Parham, 28, of 2324 W. Mallon Ave., and Victor Oles, 28, of Airway Heights, were each charged with felony residential burglary.
About 8:50 a.m., police responded to 12111 E. Mansfield Ave. Officer Walter Loucks was first to arrive and bumped into a man as he walked into the complex, Reagan said. The woman yelled to the officer the man was one of the burglars and a chase ensued.
The man was found hiding in a bush, Reagan said. Another man, who also fled from police, was found walking a few blocks away.
Police seized a red Camaro for evidence after seeing several of the woman’s items in the back.