Police Department

Stolen Firearms & Stolen Ammunition Lead to Downtown Area Motel

Ofc. Casey Jones

Thursday, March 23, 2017 at 3:38 p.m.

Joseph W. Thomas, a nine time convicted felon and Yasmine R. Garrett, a four time convicted felon, were recently arrested by Spokane Police after the investigation of a vehicle prowling led to a downtown area motel. The successful combined effort and investigation yielded a recovered stolen vehicle from the area of 2nd/Division, the recovery of numerous stolen firearms, and nearly 10,000 rounds of live ammunition out of a room in the Downtowner Motel.

In the early morning hours of March 21, 2017 a vehicle prowling was reported to have just occurred inside the Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center’s parking garage. The male and female suspects had arrived to the location in a stolen truck, broken out the window of a parked car and then fled the area after stealing a number of firearms out of the parked car.

Spokane Police were able to locate the stolen truck near the intersection of 2^nd and Division. Officers then developed information that led them to a room of the Downtowner Motel that had just been occupied by the defendants, where they believed the stolen firearms were now being kept. The defendants’ criminal histories showed that they had been previously convicted of numerous Felony offenses. The officers conducted further investigation which led to the completion of a search warrant for the suspects’ room.

The Targeted Crimes Unit (TCU) of SPD’s investigative division were summoned to assist. The Targeted Crimes Unit is an offender based team comprised of four Detectives and one Investigative Sgt. The unit works in a collaborative effort with a number of different agencies including Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) as well as the Washington State Department of Corrections.

Sgt. Sean Wheeler of The Spokane Police K9 unit was also summoned to assist in the investigation. Sgt. Wheeler supervises the K-9 unit and is partnered with his K9 Ryker. Ryker and Sgt. Wheeler are a WSPCA certified team and are trained to locate and identify several different explosive foundational odors.

Upon execution of the search warrant, several firearms were located inside the room including a .40 caliber semi-auto loading pistol, two .22 caliber rifles, a .22 caliber revolver, a .22 caliber derringer, and a .22 caliber semi-auto loading pistol. There were also other items of evidentiary value located inside the motel room including approximately 10,000 rounds of live ammunition.

The investigative information was reviewed by a Superior Court Judge who in turn signed a search warrant allowing law enforcement extended liberties to enter the motel room.

A search warrant was also executed on a stolen vehicle that had been recovered by the patrol officers. During the course of executing that search warrant a .40 caliber semi-auto loading pistol was located.

All of The firearms as well as the ammunition that had been recovered had been reported stolen.

During The course of completing the initial investigation the defendants were booked into the Spokane County Jail for one count of Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle. Defendant Joseph was held at first appearance, Garrett was released on her own recognizance.

The investigation continued wherein probable cause was developed to further charge the defendants with a variety crimes including Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Theft of a Firearm, and Vehicle Prowling. Unlawful possession of a firearm is a Washington state code that specifically prohibits people with prior felony convictions from possessing firearms.

On March 23, 2017 investigators located and re-arrested Garrett in the area of 3rd and Post. Defendant Joseph was still being held in the Spokane County Jail. Documents were presented charging both defendants with additional offenses.

The Spokane Police Department will continue in its combined efforts to bring career criminals to justice and will always strive to keep our community a safe and wonderful place to call home.

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