Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
.22 pistol, cash register stolen in Pine City
PINE CITY - Seven men are suspected of breaking into a Pine City home five times within 10 days stealing a pistol, cash register, and other items.
In between the five break-ins, a surveillance camera was installed on the property on Pine City-Malden Road, according to a report written by Sheriff Brett Myers. The sheriff led the investigation.
On Sept. 11 during the third burglary, the camera recorded two males breaking into the detached garage and taking several things. The men then broke into the house, which was used as storage for family heirlooms by the owner, who lives somewhere else, according to Myers.
Three days later, a man ran into the female homeowner inside the house. He ran out the backdoor and into a field after a male neighbor confronted him. The neighbor called the sheriff.
Myers responded to the call and ordered the Undersheriff Chris Chapman, and a deputy to assist. While driving to the residence, Myers stated he recognized a suspect from the surveillance camera driving a pickup truck in the opposite direction.
Chapman pulled the 1993 Chevrolet flatbed pickup over for allegedly having a cracked windshield, obscured license plate, and an unsecured load. The sheriff continued to the victim's house.
Tire tracks were found at the back of the victim's property cutting through another farm for more than a mile before being turning on Thornton Road. The tire tracks reportedly matched the pickup truck tires.
The owner of the truck said he and three other men were trying to enter the house because they heard there was a safe inside, but ran into the house owner and her neighbor, wrote the sheriff. The suspect said he heard two other people had already broken into the house.
A man was named as trying to sell a stolen .22 pistol and glassware from the house. The sheriff and a deputy met the suspect at the rest area on State Route 195. Myers recognized the suspect's shoes, asked to see them, reviewed the bottoms, and concluded they reportedly matched footprints in the victim's garage.
Cody J. Varner, 25, of St. John, was arrested on Sept. 14 for residential burglary at the rest area on SR 195, according to Whitman County court records.
During an interview, Varner allegedly confessed to breaking into the home and garage with two other men, stealing a pistol, ammunition, cash register, and other items.
"Additional suspects are expected to be charged and/or arrested as this case moves forward," wrote the sheriff. "This case is still under investigation."
Vander was charged with theft of a firearm in Whitman County Superior Court in relation to the investigation.
Michael G. Baldwin, 50, of Spokane, was arrested on Sept. 16 for residential burglary for his part in the Sept. 10 burglary. He is allegedly in the surveillance video.
Bill Stevenson is the former editor of the Whitman County Gazette, Colfax Daily Bulletin and Franklin Connection. He has nearly 30 years of journalism experience covering news in Eastern Washington.
Reader Comments(0)