Additional arrest in connection with string of burglaries

SPOKANE — A second arrest was made in connection with a string of burglaries in Grant and Adams counties.

After busting burglary suspect Lamar Loomis, 42, of Ephrata, on Wednesday detectives with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office requested Spokane’s Regional Auto Theft Task Force stop by the Spokane residence of 37-year-old Nichole Richardson.

The sheriff’s office says Richardson is a “known associate” of Loomis, who was arrested after undercover deputies witnessed him cut his way into the Ephrata Landfill early Wednesday morning, load items onto a stolen ATV, unload the items into a van and drive to a home in the Larson community. As the investigation progressed deputies recovered items that were stolen during a string of burglaries in Grant and Adams counties.

Loomis is lodged in the Grant County Jail for investigation of several counts of second-degree burglary, first-degree possession of stolen property and possession of a stolen vehicle. Grant County detectives thought they might be able to find more stolen property at Richardson’s home and when they drove by her residence Spokane detectives reportedly spotted a cargo trailer that was reported stolen out of Adams County.

Detectives with Grant County’s Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team, along with Adams County deputies, obtained a search warrant and searched Richardson’s home on Thursday. The raid turned up a large cache of stolen property that is believed to have been stolen during several burglaries in Ritzville.

Richardson was booked into the Adams County Jail for suspicion of residential burglary, first-degree possession of stolen property and possession of methamphetamine. The sheriff’s office reports evidence now connects Loomis to the property found at Richardson’s home and he is facing additional charges.

“This case keeps growing, and as it grows, the teamwork between Adams County, Spokane investigators and Grant County has helped make more arrests possible,” Sheriff Tom Jones explained. “We’ve thus far connected cases in Grant and Adams counties, and we will continue to team-investigate this case with our regional partners.”

If you have any information on the thefts contact the Grant County Sheriff’s Office at 509-762-1160 or via email at crimetips@grantcountywa.gov.

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