Man caught in stolen car receives prison time

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man who was arrested thanks to an off-duty Othello police officer will be spending over a year in prison.

Daniel Simpson, 30, of Moses Lake, pleaded guilty in Grant County Superior Court to second-degree possession of stolen property and possession of heroin and was sentenced to 17 months in prison.

Simpson’s sentence stems from a Jan. 17 incident when the Moses Lake Police Department received word of a stolen 2003 Dodge Neon spotted in the 1100 block of North Stratford Road. The caller, an off-duty Othello Police Department officer, said he saw the stolen vehicle, due to the vehicle being reported as stolen from Othello, outside of Anytime Fitness on North Stratford Road and he followed the car to 1100 block.

“He (the officer) stated that he thought the vehicle was occupied by three people, possibly one male and two females,” wrote an MLPD officer. “Dispatch advised that the occupants of the vehicle may be armed due to a handgun being concealed inside at the time of the theft.”

Police responded and were able to get Simpson, who was the driver of the Neon, and three other people out of the vehicle without further incident. Simpson was searched and police located a bag containing heroin in his right inside jacket pocket.

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