Columbia River Drug Task Force Still Processing $200k worth of Stolen Construction Supplies

The Columbia River Drug Task Force is labelling the investigation from May 20, where authorities discovered of over $200k worth of stolen items, as the largest stolen property case they have ever seen. Now the Task Force is trying return the items back to their owners.

Chelan County Sheriff's Office reported that multiple construction sites in Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Franklin counties were victim to multiple robberies as early as January. Sites that were repeatedly were at Chelan, Leavenworth, Wenatchee, East Wenatchee, and Rock Island. Construction companies that were robbed include Sage Homes, Real Homes, Eider Construction, Pinnacle Custom Builders, Carlisle Classic Homes, along with numerous others.

Suspect was reportedly driving a dually style pickup truck and was found stuck in a ditch near the Sunnyslope area when someone called in his license plate number. A warrant was issued on May 19 after authorities surveyed the suspect's residence on Keller Street. The trailer that the truck was carrying was apparently stolen from Quincy. After the arrest, the truck was sent to be impounded.
 
Stolen items recovered from the scene include three stolen trailers, already returned to their owners, 12 Heat Pumps, thousands of dollars in stolen lumber, flooring, siding, window packages, hundreds of unopened bottles of liquor, and numerous appliances. It reportedly took over two days to process with 4-6 detectives working 10-14 hours each day.  

Items that still need to be returned include cabinets, appliances-washer, dryer, stove, ovens, water heaters, electric fireplace, toilets, concrete finisher, European oak flooring, Evoke German flooring,  high-end alcohol, paint sprayers, big screen TVs, miter saws, table saws, heat pumps, packaged electrical wiring (receipts and/or proof of purchase needed), assorted lumber/beams, and a motorcycle.

The Task Force was sent to investigate this case due to the Special Investigations Unit already being preoccupied with the fatal officer-involved shooting on Palouse Street on May 7. Chelan County Chief Chris Foreman theorized that the suspect was able to hide in plain site and was not the only one involved, although details on that theory are still under investigation.

"I think part of it is he was [out] late at night in the early morning hours, and he was driving a vehicle that looks like a construction type vehicle, so I think he kind of blend[ed] in."

If you are looking to recover an item you believe has been stolen, contact the Sheriff's office with a case number from a law enforcement agency, the serial number, and a description of the items stolen, including identifying marks, photos, and/or receipts.