Law enforcement agencies have been busy investigating not one, but two individual cases. The first, a string of burglaries that spans Franklin, Benton, and Adams Counties and even extends into parts of Oregon, led to the arrest of two individuals. On January 4, detectives from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Connell Police Chief Chris Lee, and detectives with the Kennewick Police Department, met to discuss each agency’s respective cases and establish a list of known stolen items. As investigations progressed, the agencies found similarities and eventually the same suspects and vehicle(s) identified in the various cases. That same day, detectives from the Kennewick Police Department arrested 28 year old Abel Perez-Morales and 27 year old Alejandro Alvarez-Dominguez, without incident at a hotel in the 400 block of W. 27th Place in Kennewick. The two men were booked into the Benton County Jail. Chief Lee shared with the Franklin County Graphic that subsequent search warrants have been completed and property suspected of being stolen has been located. Lee added, “These are active investigations and additional search warrants and arrests may be made.”
Detective Mark Boyer with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office expressed that the Adams County Sheriff’s and Othello Police Department are also investigating burglaries with possible ties to the suspects.
Undersheriff Monty Huber encouraged victims to be patient as the process of reviewing reports taken and lists of stolen items and matching them with the owners is “very, very time consuming.” He also encouraged them to report any additional missing items that they notice.
For those wanting to protect themselves from potential crimes, Huber suggested keeping serial numbers and photographs of valuables in a binder so that if they are ever stolen, officers can identify recovered property faster.
The second, started with a vehicle theft on Saturday, January 7. Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies assisted the Connell Police Department with the vehicle theft that had just occurred. The vehicle was located on SR 260 and refused to stop for law enforcement. According to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office dated Sunday, January 8, the vehicle was driving erratically which led the deputies to believe that the driver may be impaired and so they pursued the vehicle to the Clark Addition north of Pasco. The vehicle came to a stop and the driver fled to a residence that was already under surveillance as reports were made of it being involved with multiple vehicle thefts.
Deputies surrounded the residence and obtained a search warrant based on the incident along with previous information. On Sunday morning, January 9, five individuals were detained from the residence and camp trailers on the property. In addition to the stolen car from Connell, three additional stolen vehicles were recovered from the property, as well as several thousand dollars worth of stolen tools and construction materials. Additionally, a large artifact and fossil collection valued at nearly $100,000 was also recovered. This collection was inside of a large trailer that was stolen from a large storage facility in Kennewick recently, the press release reported.
The Sheriff’s office worked with the Pasco Police Department prior to the warrant and is now also working with Richland Detectives on this case. Undersheriff Monty Huber told the Franklin County Graphic on Tuesday, January 10, “Information obtained at the Clark Road address has led to additional warrants to be served. This group is targeting vehicles and new home construction sites, as they’re big ticket items.”
Sheriff Jim Raymond added, “The cops did well. So far we have five people in jail and continue recovery efforts of stolen vehicles, trailers, jewelry, and expensive artifacts and exhibits, etc. Cops have been wanting to get inside the property and residence where this crook decided would be a great place to run to for weeks.”
Huber stated of the two incidents, “We are still figuring out the impact of those folks’ crimes.” If you have further items missing or any information you can contact Huber at (509) 545-3501.
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