Police Department

Follow Up by PACT Team Leads to Arrest in Package Thefts

Ofc. Teresa Fuller

Thursday, May 26, 2016 at 3:52 p.m.

The Spokane Police Department’s Patrol Anti-Crime Team, following up on leads from citizens and investigative information, arrested Billy S. Temple (41) yesterday afternoon. The vehicle Temple was driving is the same vehicle pictured in the media release sent out Tuesday reference the package theft suspects. Temple was booked into Spokane County Jail for Attempting to Elude Police as well as a DOC warrant for Escape from Community Custody. Officers were able to return at least one of the packages back to the rightful owner and other charges for Temple are pending.

Sgt. Kurt Vigesaa of the PACT Team spotted Temple just before 11:30am yesterday, May 25, 2016, in the area of 1700 east Boone. After pictures of a vehicle used by suspected package thieves had been released to media, information had come together identifying Temple as the driver of the 4-Runner. Sgt. Vigesaa determined Temple also had a warrant for his arrest. When Sgt. Vigesaa attempted to stop Temple, he fled. Due to safety concerns, Sgt. Vigesaa ended the pursuit.

Several minutes later, a citizen called into 911 saying the 4-Runner pictured “in the news” was parked in front of her house in the 3700 block of east Longfellow. The PACT Team moved in to the area, determined what house Temple was in, and after a brief standoff with Temple, he surrendered without further incident and was taken into custody.

Officers were able to retrieve the contents from the package stolen from the Five Mile neighborhood on Tuesday, some Legos, and return them to the victim. Officers will be looking into adding additional charges for Temple and the other suspect(s) in the future.

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