Vehicle shot in attempted wire theft

QUINCY — A farmer who discovered copper wire allegedly being stolen from his property shot the vehicle of the fleeing suspect, the Grant County Sheriff's Office reported Tuesday.

Dan Herring, Quincy, was concerned about his irrigation system early Saturday and decided to check his fields when he saw a blue Ford Taurus on his property and a man allegedly trying to steal wire from irrigation equipment, said Chief Criminal Deputy John Turley.

The suspect is Stephen Glen Low, 38, of Moses Lake, he said.

Herring, driving his pickup truck, apparently approached Low in the Taurus.

Low reportedly attempted to drive his vehicle at Herring, Turley said. Herring, armed with a firearm, shot once into the radiator of Low's vehicle, which was on Herring's access road to the farm, he said.

Low then reversed his vehicle in an attempt to get away, but was forced into a nearby canal by Herring, disabling the car, Turley said.

Low, who has a lengthy history of theft in Grant County, fled on foot, Turley said.

Sheriff's deputies combed the area, along with a bloodhound search dog and a farmer who volunteered to fly the area in his personal aircraft.

A six-hour search resulted in evidentiary finds but not Low.

A final search was conducted by a Washington State Patrol aviation trooper without success.

Low remains at large and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

The vehicle driven by Low was taken to a secure impound, where the state patrol forensic team plans to process the interior for evidence.