Property owner confronts theft suspects near Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE - A property owner near Moses Lake interrupted an attempted metal theft after noticing a suspicious vehicle parked on his land.

About 9 a.m. Friday, deputies responded to 15390 Stratford Rd. NW for a report of a burglary and theft. The property owner, Doug Hendrickson, told deputies he spotted a Dodge Neon with a temporary registration tag parked near a single-wide trailer on his property.

Hendrickson, who has been a victim of several recent burglaries and thefts, reportedly confronted a man he found inside the trailer, later identified as Frank Lopez, 31, of Moses Lake. When Lopez started to drive away, Hendrickson noticed a piece of one of his farm implements in the back seat of the vehicle, according to the sheriff's office.

When confronted, Lopez allegedly took the property out of the vehicle and placed it on the ground. When deputies arrived, Hendrickson discovered an air cleaner assembly was also missing from one of his trucks parked nearby.

Deputies later located the suspected vehicle at the intersection of Roads M.2 and 10 Northeast. When Lopez spotted police, he allegedly drove reverse at a high rate of speed and parked in the driveway at 9963 Road M.2 Northeast, according to the sheriff's office.

Lopez allegedly attempted to flee and was quickly apprehended. A passenger in the vehicle, Sonya Adame, 33, of Moses Lake, also fled and was found a short time later and arrested.

Deputies reportedly found several pieces of Hendrickson's stolen property during a warrant search inside the suspect's vehicle, including metal panels, combine wrenches, the air cleaner and other various metals, the sheriff's office stated. The value of the stolen property was estimated at $1,200.

Both Lopez and Adame were captured on surveillance cameras on Hedrickson's property, showing the two in the suspected vehicle.

Lopez and Adame were booked into Grant County Jail on suspicion of second-degree theft, second-degree possession of stolen property, second-degree trespassing and second-degree vehicle prowl. Both also had outstanding warrants, according to the sheriff's office.

"Great job by Mr. Hendrickson and deputies catching these two suspects," Sheriff Jones said Monday. "I want to remind the public to please call us if they see suspicious activity. Chances are the suspicious people or cars are up to no good and the quicker we can get there, the better the chance we have of solving the crime."