Several agencies raid suspected car thieves

Deputies and state troopers raided a suspected auto theft operation this morning near Newport, finding numerous stolen vehicles and a marijuana growing operation. Two men were taken into custody as part of the multi-state law enforcement operation that included the Spokane County Sheriff’s SWAT team. Washington State Patrol Trooper Kyle Witt said investigators remain on scene located on Spring Valley Road, which is a few miles south of Newport, processing vehicles to determine if they are stolen. “As of now, I believe we have recovered some stolen vehicles, a motorcycle, an ATV and we also found a marijuana grow, and (methamphetamines) along with weapons and ammunition,” Witt said. The WSP is leading the investigation, which includes investigators from Pend Oreille County, the U.S. Border Patrol, as well as counterparts from Bonner and Kootenai counties from Idaho. Witt said the two suspects were booked into the Pend Oreille County Jail, but he would not release their names at this time. After the Spokane County sheriff’s SWAT team executed the warrant without incident at about 7 a.m., it was called to assist with the unrelated homicide investigation on Charles Road near Nine Mile Falls, Witt said. “There are so many vehicles, we are just trying to gather up (vehicle identification numbers) and get them all run,” Witt said.