Vehicle thief arrested after hiding under bed

Man stole car and fled from law enforcement

MOSES LAKE — A Pasco man wrecked a stolen vehicle on West Broadway Avenue Friday afternoon following a law enforcement pursuit.

Cameron W. Shelton, 19, Pasco, was spotted by a Grant County Sheriff's Office deputy driving a stolen 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse near Beacon Road.

"When deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, it fled and deputies terminated the pursuit on Grape Drive," according to the Moses Lake Police.

Moses Lake police observed the Eclipse allegedly speeding across the Alder Street Fill in and out of oncoming traffic, Operations Capt. Dave Ruffin said.

Shelton reportedly continued traveling on West Broadway Avenue, reportedly striking the front end of a 1995 Toyota Avalon driven by Araceli L. Hernandez, 33, Moses Lake. The Eclipse continued to travel west, striking a second vehicle. The second vehicle was a 1988 Nissan Maxima driven by Corie R. Otto, 42, Moses Lake.

There were no reported injuries from the vehicle accidents, Capt. Jim Jenkins said.

When the Eclipse allegedly skidded to a halt, Shelton and passenger Lee N. Smith, 31, Pasco, fled the scene on foot.

Smith was captured by police immediately and arrested for taking a motor vehicle without permission in the second degree after allegedly admitting to knowing the vehicle was stolen.

Shelton fled toward Fourth Avenue, Ruffin said.

He allegedly attempted to break into a residence on the avenue but failed, police reported.

He successfully broke into a different house a few houses away from the first attempt, Ruffin said.

Moses Lake police and Grant County Sheriff's deputies surrounded the house, made entry and searched. He was located hiding under a bed, he said.

Shelton was arrested for residential burglary, attempted residential burglary, felony eluding, felony hit and run and possession of stolen property in the first degree.