Police Department

Investigation leads to arrest of Robbery and Car Theft suspect

Sgt. Lydia Taylor, 509.481.8565

Monday, February 24, 2014 at 10:30 a.m.

Through detailed investigation and follow up by SPD officers, detectives, and Crime Analysis, Spokane Police arrest 19-year-old Corey Huska for a series of crimes committed throughout Spokane. He was arrested over the weekend and charged with one count of Robbery, four counts of Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, one count of Taking a Motor Vehicle, and one count of Attempting to Elude. Detectives believe he may be responsible for additional crimes and will continue to investigate in coordination with the WSP Auto Theft Task Force. Huska is known to law enforcement with numerous previous police contacts.

Huska is the individual believed to be responsible for stealing an idling vehicle on 02/13/14, crashing this vehicle after the owner pursued him, fleeing on foot, and stealing another vehicle to escape (see February 13th news release).

On 02-11-14, just before 8:30 a.m., Spokane Police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle in the 6400 block of N. Sutherlin. The owner reported he had left his vehicle running unoccupied and it was stolen. Officers completed an incident report and the car was entered into a stolen vehicle database so that officers could be on the lookout for the vehicle.

Later that night, around 11:30 p.m., Spokane Police Patrol officers were driving south on Ash near Wellesley when officers noticed a vehicle driving in both lanes of traffic. The officer followed the vehicle, ran the license place and determined the vehicle was stolen (this vehicle was the same vehicle stolen from N. Sutherlin). The officer turned on his emergency lights and attempted to make a traffic stop. Instead of stopping, the vehicle quickly accelerated, heading east on Garland. The vehicle traveled at a high rate of speed (40-60 MPH in the Garland district) and turned off of Garland, away from officers. Because of concerns surrounding the safety of high-speed pursuit in a highly populated area, officers did not pursue the fleeing vehicle. Through follow-up investigation, Corey Huska was identified as a possible suspect in this incident.

On 02-12-14,Spokane Police located the vehicle stolen from N. Sutherlin in the area of N. Foothills and Mayfair. Officers followed the vehicle for several blocks until it took off down several side streets, away from police. Officers located the vehicle, abandoned near Morton and Augusta. A K-9 track was attempted however the suspect was not located. An i-Pad, ski coat and checkbook were missing from the vehicle. Through follow-up investigation, Corey Huska was identified as a possible suspect in this incident.

On 02-13-14, Spokane Police responded to a report of a vehicle theft. Huska is believed to have stolen the vehicle while it was left idling, crashed the vehicle after the owner pursued him, fled, and stole another car to escape. Officers completed an incident report and the car was entered into a stolen vehicle database so that officers could be on the lookout for the vehicle. After investigation and witness interviews, SPD identified Corey Huska as a suspect in the incident.

On 02-17-14, just before 12:30 p.m., Spokane Police responded to the Fred Meyer at 400 S. Thor on a report of a stolen vehicle. The owner indicated he parked his 1992 Nissan Sentra in the parking lot that morning, returned to the location where the vehicle was parked and it was gone. Officers completed an incident report and the car was entered into a stolen vehicle database so that officers could be on the lookout for the vehicle.

Later that day, around 2 p.m., Spokane Police responded to a report of a Robbery at the Trading Company Store 4200 S. Cheney Rd. Employees reported that a suspect entered the store, stole alcohol and fled in a 1992 Nissan Sentra (the same vehicle stolen from the Fred Meyer parking lot earlier in the day).

Through detailed follow up investigation by multiple SPD officers, SPD detectives and SPD Crime Analysis, Spokane Police identified Corey Huska as a suspect in each of the above incidents. Probable cause was developed to arrest Huska for the Robbery incident.

He was taken into custody by the Spokane Police Patrol Anti-Crime Team (PACT) while walking near Monroe and Indiana late Friday night. He is charged with one count of Robbery, four counts of Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, one count Taking a Motor Vehicle, and one count of Attempting to Elude. Detectives believe he may be responsible for additional crimes and will continue to investigate in coordination with the WSP Auto Theft Task Force. Huska is known to law enforcement with numerous previous police contacts.

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