Man who allegedly stole U-Haul truck pursued, arrested in north Spokane attic

The pursuit of a stolen U-Haul truck late Wednesday night led Washington State Patrol troopers to a north Spokane garage where a 49-year-old man was hiding and arrested, according to a WSP news release.

The incident began when a WSP trooper was investigating “loud banging noises” at the U-Haul dealer near the North Division Street Y and saw a man, allegedly James Manfredda, running from the building toward the U-Haul vehicles, according to a news release.

The trooper found the security key box was broken into and keys to a truck had been stolen, according to a news release. When he attempted to stop the truck, the vehicle fled south on Division Street.

After WSP stopped the pursuit due to security concerns, it was reinitiated and continued near West Wellesley Avenue and North Howard Street, where the U-Haul was abandoned.

A Spokane Police Department K-9 then tracked Manfredda, who officers said fled on foot, to 4700 N. Stevens St., according to a news release. People in the area said they saw a man trying to hide and enter a garage.

Spokane police officers found Manfredda hiding in the rafters after surrounding the garage, according to a news release. As they tried to negotiate with him to come down, he was allegedly climbing around and throwing items from his pockets at officers.

Then Manfredda went through an access point to the duplex’s attic, and officers sent a K-9 in to arrest him, according to a news release. When Manfredda said he was going to kill the K-9 and started swinging a stick, the dog was called out of the attic.

Later Manfredda climbed through the attic to another part of the duplex, so officers removed a vent on the front of the residence, according to a news release. Police ultimately used “less lethal means” to get Manfredda to surrender after an hour of attempted negotiation.

While Manfredda was climbing through the building, police say they located his backpack in the garage and found a realistic looking Airsoft gun and several wigs inside of it.

Manfredda was booked into Spokane County Jail just before 5:30 a.m. on charges including malicious mischief, vehicle theft, residential burglary, attempting to elude police, felony possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest.

Manfredda has been convicted in the past of attempting to elude police, possession of stolen property, theft, assault and driving under the influence, according to police and court records. Records do not show any criminal cases involving Manfredda since 2001.

Manfredda will appear in Spokane County Superior Court at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.