Woman accused of robbing good Samaritan

EPHRATA - A Cheney woman is accused of robbing a good Samaritan who offered her a ride.

Prosecutors charged Tearra J. Howard, 21, with first-degree robbery, theft of a motor vehicle and possession of a stolen vehicle in Grant County Superior Court, according to court records.

Howard was walking on the side of state Route 2 outside of Hartline when a family in a gray Ford Ranger stopped to offer her a ride, according to a Grant County sheriff's report. The woman initially accepted and then refused.

After arriving in Coulee City, the truck owner's aunt returned to ask a second time if the woman needed a ride, according to the police report. Howard reportedly told the victim she would accept if she could take the rock she was carrying with her.

After about two miles, Howard allegedly told the woman to pull over. When the truck stopped, Howard reportedly threatened to hit the woman with the rock if she didn't get out of the truck, according to the police report. The victim allegedly told the woman she wasn't getting out of the truck without her purse, and took her purse. Howard reportedly tried grabbing the purse when the victim was getting out.

A deputy allegedly spotted Howard making a U-turn on state Route 2 outside of Coulee City, according to court records. The deputy identified the vehicle as the one reported stolen, and stopped it.

Howard reportedly told the officer a similar story about the truck approaching her the first time, according to the police. She allegedly told the officer the victim started acting weird, and she became scared, so she asked the woman to stop.

Howard allegedly told the officer that the victim refused to let her out of the truck when they pulled over. When the victim reportedly refused, Howard threatened her with the rock, telling her to get out of the truck.