Police Department

Couple Shoplifts Thousands, Flees Law Enforcement, and Collides with Police Car before Being Apprehended

Ofc. Xenon Berkeley

Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 8:28 a.m.

Couple Shoplifts Thousands, Flees Law Enforcement, and Collides with Police Car Before Being Apprehended

On November 2, 2022 at approximately 9pm, Spokane Police received the report of a couple shoplifting from a business in the 9600 block of N Newport Hwy Spokane, WA. The couple stole approximately $2000 in retail items. The caller advised the couple fled the scene in a vehicle and provided a description of the vehicle.

At approximately 9:15pm, an attentive police officer located the suspect vehicle near the intersection of N Haven St and E Queen Ave in Hillyard. The officer initiaited a traffic stop on the vehicle. Rather than stopping, the vehicle accelerated quickly and fled southbound. Due to state laws and departmental policy, the officer was unable to pursue the vehicle.

Three minutes later, a Spokane police sergeant advised he had been involved in a serious traffic collision near the intersection of N Greene St and E Mission Ave. The sergeant advised the vehicle’s occupants were fleeing on foot. It was quickly determined to be the same vehicle driven by the suspects as the original shoplifting call and the traffic stop. The sergeant was transported to a local hospital with moderate injuries.

With the help of witnesses, officers scoured the area and located the vehicle’s driver, Marlene Pfeiffer (32), and passenger, Stephen Brown (40). Marlene is a 4 time convicted felon with prior convictions including Theft and Identity Theft. Stephen is an 8-time convicted felon with prior convictions including Attempt to Elude, Retail Theft with Extenuating Circumstances (2 convictions), Residential Burglary, and Theft of a Motor Vehicle. Marlene had multiple active warrants out of Kootenai County for Dangerous Drugs, Burglary, Theft, and Introducing Contraband to a Correctional Facility. Stephen had an active Department of Corrections felony warrant for failing to comply with the terms of his release from a Retail Theft with Extenuating Circumstances Conviction. It was determined that impairment and reckless driving behavior were factors leading to the collision.

Along with her warrants, Marlene was booked into the Spokane County Jail for Theft-2^nd Degree, Vehicular Assault, Accident Hit-and-Run with Injury, and Attempt to Elude. Stephen was booked into the Spokane County Jail for his warrant and Theft 2^nd Degree. Additional charges may be pending.

The intersection of N Greene St and E Mission Ave will be closed for several hours as this investigation continues. Case #2022-20196083.

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