Burglary, theft suspect arrested after trying to run from cops

MOSES LAKE — Police in Moses Lake were able to arrest one of two theft suspects after a foot pursuit Monday night.

About 7:20 p.m. Moses Lake police responded to a report of suspicious persons attempting to enter vehicles in a parking lot on North Stratford Road. Police reportedly located Joseph Montes, 29, and Samantha Adams, 27, in the parking lot. Montes allegedly took off running when he spotted the officers and crossed North Stratford Road. He was finally taken into custody in a field behind the Columbia Basin Elks Lodge. Police say Adams was able to escape capture.

Montes was reportedly in possession of stolen property from two Moses Lake stores. Police obtained video surveillance that allegedly shows Montes and Adams working together to steal merchandise from Walmart, which is a business they have both been trespassed from in the past.

Montes was booked into the Grant County Jail for burglary, theft and obstructing a law enforcement officer. When captured, Adams will be facing charges of burglary and theft.

“Frequent readers of this page may remember Montes and Adams from another attempted theft at Rite-Aid. In that case, they brought their child with them, and ran from store security pushing the child’s stroller. They got caught that time too,” MLPD Capt. Mike Williams said of the allegations on the MLPD’s Facebook page. “Interestingly, one of the items Montes stole last night was a pair of running shoes, so maybe he is trying to up his game.”