Police track alleged burglar's footprints in snow to a dozen houses, cars

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man was arrested Wednesday morning after a brief foot chase, and after officers traced his footprints in the snow they discovered he had traveled through nine backyards and around six vehicles while filling a sack with stolen goods, according to police.

Cato William Nelson, 29, was seen on South Cougar Drive around 7 a.m. Wednesday carrying a bag near a truck, later discovered not to be his. When he reportedly noticed an approaching police vehicle, he allegedly attempted to run away. After a brief chase with assistance by a Grant County Sheriff’s Office K9 unit, Nelson was taken into custody.

Officers found a number of stolen materials in the bag, including a stolen ID card, as well as tools commonly used in burglaries. But when officers decided to trace Nelson’s footprints backwards through the snow, they discovered he had apparently wound his way through at least nine residences and six vehicles during the early morning prowl, police said.

Nelson was booked into Grant County Jail on nine counts of second-degree burglary, six counts of car prowling, one count of attempted car prowling, possession of burglary tools, and third-degree theft.