Couple jailed on forgery, ID theft charges

Two Yakima residents were arrested early Friday when they tried to use counterfeit checks and identification to buy items at the Spokane Valley Wal-Mart.

Carla Lynn Smith, 30, and Ryan Joseph Roy, 20, were each booked into the Spokane County Jail on felony charges of forgery and second-degree identity theft, said Spokane Valley police spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan.

Roy tried to buy a BB pistol, blank compact discs and ink cartridges totaling $108 shortly after midnight, Reagan said. He presented a check and a temporary Washington driver’s license, both containing the name Kevin Smith.

The Wal-Mart employee believed the items were counterfeit and refused to accept them. Roy left the store, but returned with a female shortly afterward and tried to purchase the items with a check and temporary driver’s license in the name of Jennifer Gill.

Wal-Mart employees again declined to accept the check and called 911. The suspects attempted to flee, but were spotted and stopped by WSP Trooper Robert Spencer not far from the store.

They were taken to the jail for booking. Two other men in the suspect’s car were interviewed and released.

Copper cable taken from Modern Electric

Thieves broke into the Modern Electric storage yard at 904 N. Pines Road last week and made off with 880 feet of copper cable.

The theft occurred between 8:30 p.m. Feb. 21 and 7 a.m. Feb. 22. Thieves apparently climbed over or scurried beneath the yard’s security fencing, leaving behind a small amount of wire which had been stored on spools at the facility.

A Modern Electric employee said the cable weighs a little more than 2 pounds per foot, so guessed that more than one person was involved in the burglary.

Thefts of copper, aluminum and even stainless steel are reportedly at an all-time high in Spokane County as prices for scrap metals (and methamphetamine) remain high, Reagan said.

Anyone with information about this or any other metal theft is asked to call Spokane Valley police at 242-TIPS.