Police Department

Stolen Vehicle Recovered and Driver Arrested With Citizen's Help

Ofc. John O'Brien, PIO

Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 4:07 p.m.

An observant Spokane Police Officer locates a stolen vehicle. The suspect attempted to elude officers before abandoning the car in an alley. A concerned citizen’s reporting led to Officers locating the driver a few blocks away.

On May 22, 2020, around 5:43 a.m., a Spokane Police Officer located a stolen Subaru being driven in the area of Ash Street and Maxwell Avenue. The Officer was following the stolen vehicle at a safe distance while waiting for back up Officers to arrive. The driver continued onto eastbound I90.

When Officers were getting into position to perform a traffic stop, the driver abruptly swerved from I90 onto the Altamont Street exit. Officers activated their emergency lights to signal the driver, later identified as Thomas Curd (35), to stop.

Curd did not comply and accelerated to approximately 80mph on 3^rd Avenue approaching Altamont Street.

Officers shut off their emergency lights and did not pursue the stolen vehicle for the safety of the community.

In Curd’s attempt to elude Officers, he failed to stop for the red traffic signal and continued through the intersection at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was last seen turning south of Thor Street.

The Officer located the unoccupied car in an alley near Hartson Avenue and Ralph Street. At the same time, an observant and concerned citizen called to report two people running from the car. The descriptions that the caller provided led to the Police locating the Curd and the passenger at Thor Street and Hartson Avenue.

Curd, a convicted felon, was arrested for Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Attempting to Elude a Police Vehicle, and several felony warrants for Possession/Theft of a Motor Vehicle. During the search, incident to arrest, Curd was found to be possessing 16 “shaved” keys which are commonly used to steal older cars.

Curd’s passenger, Angela Blue-Darling (38), was arrested for multiple felony warrants to include Theft of a Motor Vehicle.

Both Curd and Blue-Darling were booked into the Spokane County Jail.

The Spokane Police Department would like to remind the owners of older vehicles, if they have the means to replace the ignition switch in their cars, doing so may reduce the chance of being victimized by prolific auto thieves.

Once again, thanks go out to a community member who got involved by calling to report suspicious behavior and providing detailed suspect descriptions.

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