Cashup Flats arrests yield drugs, stolen IDs

Methamphetamine, heroin and approximately 25 pounds of marijuana were allegedly found in a small van last Thursday afternoon and deputies arrested two Spokane men on outstanding warrants in the Cashup Flat area. The deputies obtained a warrant to search the van after K-9 Lilly was used to do a perimeter search around the van and demonstrated a positive response to the presence of drugs.

Deputy Sgt. Michael Jordan said they received a report of a disabled gold colored minivan on the Eugene Prince Road near the 195 intersection.

John R. Schumate, 55, was located at the scene and arrested on an outstanding warrant issued for a probation violation out of Kittitas County at Ellensburg.

Deputies learned a second man had walked away from the van, and a WSP trooper observed a male running away from the scene. After a short foot pursuit, Lloyd D. Rutherford, 55, Spokane was apprehended, and he was arrested on a Spokane warrant for escape from community custody.

After getting a warrant to search the van, deputies located methamphetamine, heroin and approximately 25 pounds of marijuana, the report said. They also located stolen identifications and checks belonging to a number of people.

Shumate and Rutherford were booked on probable charges of drug possession, illegal possession of a weapon, theft and criminal trespassing.

Investigation continues on the stolen identifications and the checks found in the van, Sgt. Jordan reported.

They were initially being held on bail listed in the warrants from Kittitas County and Spokane.

Both suspects made an initial appearance in court Friday morning. Bond for pre-trial release on Shumate, who was unable to give the court an address where he receives notices, was set at $50,000.

Rutherford told the court he resides with his brother in Spokane, and his pre-trial release bail was set at $25,000.

Defense Attorney Steve Martonick was appointed to represent Shumate, and Roger Sandburg was appointed to represent Rutherford.

Senior Deputy Prosecutor Wendy Lierman represented the state in the two initial hearings in court.