2 charged in ML theft, burglary

MOSES LAKE — A Soap Lake couple who allegedly stole merchandise from two Moses Lake stores and ran from police are facing several charges in Grant County Superior Court.

Grant County prosecutors charged Joseph M. Montes, 29, of Soap Lake, with second-degree burglary and two counts of third-degree theft. Samantha Adams, 27, also of Soap Lake, was charged with second-degree burglary and third-degree theft.

On Dec. 4 the Moses Lake Police Department received a report of two suspicious persons, alleged to be Montes and Adams, looking into car windows in the Walmart parking lot. An MLPD officer arrived in the area and located Montes, who matched the description of the suspect that was given to police, at the McDonalds on North Stratford Road, according to court documents.

Montes allegedly fled the scene on foot and ran across North Stratford Road into the O'Reilly Auto Parts parking lot. Officers were able to catch up to Montes in the area and took him into custody without incident. Police started interviewing Montes, who claimed he was waiting for a friend named “Vanessa” in the Walmart parking lot. Police were advised the suspect was getting into cars in the parking lot. Officers also discovered Montes had an active warrant out for his arrest and was previously trespassed from all Walmart properties.

“When I began searching his (Montes’) backpack I noticed one of the zippers still had a plastic zip tie on it. The material also appeared new. All of the pockets were empty with the exception of one of the large zipper compartments where I located a brand new pair of shoes,” wrote an MLPD officer.

Officers were able to track the stolen shoes back to the Famous Footwear on North Stratford Road. In addition, Walmart advised the backpack had been taken from their location. Walmart surveillance video reportedly shows Adams, who was previously trespassed from the business as well, select the backpack and leaving the store with Montes.

Montes and Adams reportedly previously worked together during an attempted theft at the Moses Lake Rite Aid. In the incident the two suspects brought their child with them into the business and ran from store employees when they were confronted.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.