4 Arrested for Area Vehicle Prowls

Arrested: Brown, Aaron A., 18 year of age male, Richland resident
Charges: Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Possession of Stolen Property, Vehicle Prowling

Arrested: Sakach, Devin M., 19 year of age male, West Richland resident
Charges: Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Possession of Stolen Property, Vehicle Prowling

Arrested: Johnson, Hunter H., 19 year of age male, Richland resident
Charges: Possession of Stolen Property, Vehicle Prowling

Arrested: 17 year of age male, West Richland resident
Charge: Possession of Stolen Property

Synopsis:

Since July 1, 2011 there have been over 200 vehicle prowls in Richland. Many of the crimes involved the theft of electronics, cameras, sunglasses, firearms and computer equipment.

On October 12, 2011 a backpack was found in the yard of the 100 block of Rosemary St. Inside was a pistol, drugs, and a citation issued to Aaron Brown. The owner of the stolen firearm lives in the area of south Richland and had been the victim of a car prowl.

Information provided to the Richland Police crime prevention officer was passed on to members of the RPD Street Crimes Unit (SCU). SCU members contacted Brown and later Sakach and Johnson. Information gathered from the three criminal suspects led officers to a cache of stolen property hidden in the desert outside of West Richland. 6 other backpacks were recovered along with iPods, sunglasses, phone charging cords, cameras, flashlights, earphones, an e-reader and other personal property taken in car prowls throughout Richland and west Kennewick. The suspects have claimed responsibility for over 45 incidents of vehicle prowling.

In addition to the pistol originally recovered, SCU officers have also obtained a stolen .22 cal rifle and a stolen .12 gauge shotgun. Three search warrants have been served on vehicles associated with the suspects with stolen property being recovered from each. A West Richland juvenile has also been taken into custody and has been linked to the thefts.

$943.00 in cash was seized as proceeds of drug transactions. Scales, marijuana and some prescription medications have been seized and the sale of illicit drugs is still being investigated.

The investigation is continuing and it is believed that additional pieces of stolen property will be recovered.

After consulting with the Benton County Prosecutor's Office, the adults were booked into the Benton County jail on the listed charges.

Contact Capt. Mike Cobb, 942-7362, for additional information.