Police Department

Arrest made after SPD rifle stolen from officer's personal vehicle

Ofc. Teresa Fuller, 509.835.4568, tfuller@spokanepolice.org

Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at 2:29 p.m.

Spokane Police have arrested a suspect in the June 20th theft of an SPD issued rifle stolen from an officer’s personal vehicle. There is both an ongoing criminal investigation into the theft as well as an Internal Affairs investigation into any possible policy violations made by the officer.

On June 20th, 2015, just after 4:30pm, Crime Check received a report of a vehicle prowling in Spokane County. The prowling occurred to a Spokane Police officer’s personally owned vehicle where a rifle issued to that officer by the Spokane Police Department was stolen.

The officer advised he had stopped at Riverside State Park to take a walk with a friend. The rifle was in his vehicle because he was scheduled to work his patrol shift later that evening. He concealed the rifle and locked his truck prior to leaving it unattended. When he and his friend returned approximately 20 minutes later, the rear window was broken out and the rifle was gone.

The Spokane County Forensic Unit was able to develop information naming Cody A. Dewitt (21) as a suspect in the theft. The Spokane Police Department’s Targeted Crimes Unit (TCU) was able to develop probable cause to charge Dewitt and subsequently arrested him on June 29th for 2nd Theft of a Firearm and 1st Degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in addition to a DOC warrant.

The criminal investigation is ongoing and officers are actively following up on leads as they develop information in this case.

The Internal Affairs investigation is also ongoing and will determine if any departmental policies were violated.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call Crime Check at 509.456.2233.

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