Man arrested for theft of motor vehicle

COLFAX—Whitman County Deputies arrested Nicholas J. Bunch, 39 for theft of a motor vehicle, and three counts of vehicle prowl the evening of Jan. 7, states a press release from Jan. 9, 2023.

According to reports, Saturday evening a citizen reported giving a ride to a stranger earlier in the morning and then dropping him off near Dry Creek Road. The citizen reported the incident to law enforcement after feeling suspicious of the encounter.

Concerned deputies contacted the homeowner, and discovered that the homeowner’s 2004 Silverado pickup truck was missing, states the release.

Reports state that the vehicle was located near a business on the north end of Pullman at the intersection of Albion Road and SR 27 around 10 p.m. Saturday evening.

The release states that Bunch had fled from the scene but was found hiding under a semi-truck trailer in the immediate area, and was subsequently arrested and booked into the Whitman County Jail.

Bunch later admitted he had stolen the vehicle, and had also broke into at least three other vehicles parked near the same location.