State, local cops bust stolen car ring at Thornton

Officers seized tens of thousands of dollars in stolen property and a large stash of illegal drugs from a rural residence at Thornton Dec. 16.

In a bust that drew agents from five Spokane and Whitman County law agencies, officers seized a 37-plant marijuana grow, a quantity of methamphetamine and thousands of dollars worth of stolen property and car parts.

“The vast majority of it was everything from electronics like TVs or car stereos. There was also numerous vehicle parts off of many stolen vehicles,” said Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers.

It is believed the residence in Thornton was part of a larger criminal enterprise operating in at least Spokane and Whitman counties. A larger crime ring of this nature typically trades stolen property for narcotics, Myers said.

“We believe these people are certainly connected with a larger organization up in the Spokane area,” he said.

The two suspects living at the residence on Sunset Road have not yet been arrested. They were not home at the time the warrant was served.

Myers said the two are believed to be living at another residence in Spokane County.

The different agencies had been planning the bust for more than a month and a half, Myers said. Most of the stolen property was taken from Spokane.

“It’s a criminal enterprise here in Whitman County and we want to shut that down,” Myers said.

Authorities found the majority of some stolen car parts from a 2003 Honda Civic which was reported stolen Oct. 20 in Spokane. The owner was notified and the parts have already been returned to him.

Agencies participating included Washington State Patrol’s Spokane Regional Auto Theft Task Force, Whitman County Sheriff’s Office, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Property Crimes Task Force, Quad Cities Drug Task Force and the Whitman County Regional SWAT team.