Colfax man faces car theft charges

Justin J. Hardgrove, 30, Colfax, has been summoned to appear in court July 13 after a charge of theft of a motor vehicle was filed against him June 26 in Whitman County Superior Court.

The charges followed an investigation by Colfax officers last November. Police received a report from a Colfax woman who said Hardgrove borrowed her 1997 Chevrolet Malibu Nov. 21. He told her he needed to use the car to transport a friend to the hospital in Pullman where the friend’s girlfriend was about to have a baby.

The report said the car owner several days later received a report from Lewiston Police that her car had been impounded at Lewiston. The suspect and other Colfax residents were reportedly in the car at the time it was impounded.

The alleged victim recovered the car. Among items found in the vehicle when it was returned to the owner was a beer case with seven cans remaining unopened.