Police Department

SPD Arrests "Repeat Offender"

Ofc. John O'Brien, PIO

Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 1:34 p.m.

Spokane Police arrest “Repeat Offender”, with 14 felony convictions, for possessing a stolen motor vehicle.

On November 14, 2019, around 4:30 a.m., the Spokane Police Patrol Anti-Crime Team (PACT) became aware of a stolen 2015 Ford pickup leaving an apartment complex near 15000 N. Wandermere Road. The vehicle had originally been stolen, August 10, 2019, from a residential burglary in the area of 17200 N. Little Spokane Drive. On November 8, 2019, the vehicle was used in a burglary near 300 E. Blackhawk Drive.

The driver of the vehicle, later to be determined as Daniel A. Wessels (33 years-old), appeared to be driving around the city of Spokane casing neighborhoods after leaving the Wandermere Road location. It appears Wessels stole items from a garage at 5400 W. Barnes Road.

Around 7:00 a.m., PACT located the stolen truck, driven by Wessels, at the dead end on Hills Court near Fiske Street.

Wessels had abandoned the truck but was seen walking towards Underhill Park with an item stolen from Barnes Road. While walking away, Wessels appeared to be abandoning clothing he had been wearing while driving the stolen truck.

As officers got close to Wessels, he fled from them and hid in the heavily wooded and rocky area. A K9 officer and his partner were called to the location to track Wessels. As officers were closing in, Wessels fled from behind a shed but was taken into custody, without incident, a short distance away.

When asked why he fled, Wessels said, “I always run from you guys.”

Wessels was arrested and booked for Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle. The investigation is ongoing and more charges may be added in the future.

Wessels is listed as a “Repeat Offender” through Spokane Police Department Crime Analysis Unit. The Repeat Offender Program is a partnership between local, state law enforcement, prosecutors, and the Department of Corrections who are dedicated to identifying, arresting, and incarcerating those individuals who have displayed by their actions, a constant disregard for the laws of our community and the rights of others.

Wessels has 14 felony convictions to include 6 for Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle and 2 for Attempting to Elude a Police Vehicle. Wessels has been arrested 58 times with 11 of those related to vehicle theft.

Wessels is currently awaiting trial for an arrest on November 18, 2018 when he was arrested for possessing a stolen 2017 Chevy Silverado.

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