Search Warrants Recover Stolen Property

Arrested:  Pitman, Jeremy W, 33 year of age male, Transient

Arrested:  Moore, Jereme S, 34 year of age male, West Richland resident

Synopsis:
Richland Police investigators have been working on leads from several commercial and residential burglaries for the past 7-10 days.  Pitman had been identified as a viable suspect in several of the crimes under investigation. 

On September 15, 2015 at about 11:00 AM patrol units responded to a call in the 1600 block of Butternut Ave for a suspicious person.  Witnesses had observed a male in the area going onto a neighbor’s property.  The witness noted that he was not familiar with the subject as being seen in the neighborhood before and found is suspicious when he stepped up onto an object and began peering through the windows of the home.

Responding officers found an open window that had a screen removed.  Officers found Pitman hiding in the basement.  He was arrested without incident.  His arrest lead to additional search warrants and the recovery of a large amount of stolen property.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for 10 N. 46^th Ave. in West Richland. A 12 gauge shotgun, an assault rifle and a handgun were among the items stolen in recent burglaries and believed to be in the house.  Due to the threat posed by the location, possible weapons and the criminal history of the occupants the Tri-City Regional SWAT team assisted Richland and West Richland officers serve the warrant early this morning.

Jereme Moore was located inside.  He was taken into custody on Possession of Stolen Property charges.  Both subjects have been booked into the Benton County jail.

A large number of stolen items were found at the location.  The scene is still being processed by investigators from RPD and WRPD.  Items include electronics, wire, yard maintenance equipment and a significant number of hand tools that appear to have been stolen from construction sites.  No weapons have been found at this time.

More information will be published as it becomes available.

Contact Cpt. Mike Cobb, 509-942-7362 for additional information.