Police nab freed felon, find gun

A convicted felon wanted on a warrant for new crimes was back in jail Friday after a paperwork mistake set him free earlier this month.

Shawn I. Vanzandt was arrested by Spokane Valley police on a $125,000 warrant charging him with taking a car without the owner’s permission, second-degree malicious mischief and possession of meth, said Spokane County sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan.

Vanzandt had already been arrested Dec. 8, after being featured through the Spokane County’s Secret Witness program. A detective sent criminal charging documents to the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office, but those documents didn’t make it to the jail for Vanzandt’s first court appearance, and he was set free without bail, Reagan said.

Vanzandt didn’t appear for another court date set by a judge for formal charges, and another warrant for his arrest was issued.

“While he was released, he’s already burgled one of his buddies’ homes,” Reagan said. “This guy is very active; he commits a lot of crimes.”

Vanzandt allegedly stole a friend’s truck during his release and was driving it around Spokane.

Authorities issued another Secret Witness notice for Vanzandt on Friday, but before it was published he was located at his mother’s home at 111 N. Walnut and arrested.

Detectives searched the home and found a .25-caliber Phoenix semiautomatic pistol. Vanzandt had a loaded magazine for the gun and several bullets with him when he was arrested, Reagan said.

In addition to the warrant, Vanzandt was booked into the Spokane County Jail on a count of first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, Reagan said.