Prowling suspect says he was trying to get warm

A suspected vehicle prowler told Spokane County deputies he was inside a woman’s car because he was trying to get warm, but couldn’t explain why he was carrying a knife at the time.

A Spokane Valley homeowner called deputies just before 2 a.m. Thursday to report seeing a man break into a vehicle in the area of Broadway Avenue and Conklin Road. The caller said the man might have been armed with scissors.

Deputies arrived and saw a man matching the description of the vehicle prowler walking west on Broadway. A deputy saw the man, identified as 35-year-old Anthony L. Vornheder, attempt to get into a parked car, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Vornheder was holding a large knife and initially refused commands to drop it, the release said. Instead he simply stared at the deputy and asked why he was being contacted, the release said.

Vornheder eventually complied with commands. Deputies found a vehicle registration in his pocket. Vornheder reportedly told deputies that he had been in the woman’s car to warm up. When asked why he took the registration out of the glove box and put it in his pocket, he shrugged his shoulders, deputies said.

He was arrested on suspicion of second-degree vehicle prowling, attempted vehicle prowling and obstructing an officer.