SPOKANE, Wash. — A suspect was arrested Monday morning following a crash involving a stolen truck in Spokane County.
According to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began around 7 a.m. on Oct. 22 when deputies said they got an alert about a truck reported stolen. Earlier that morning, there were reports of three males attempting to steal motorcycles in the South Hill area, with a witness mentioning a possible firearm.
Deputies said that they spotted the truck in the South Regal Street and activated the patrol car’s emergency lights. The driver failed to stop and sped away. Due to safety concerns for others on the road, the Deputy ended the pursuit.
Shortly after, the crashed truck was found abandoned in the front yard of a home in the 6600 block of South Waneta. Officers established a perimeter and utilized a drone to search the area.
Deputies said that around 8 a.m., the drone operator located a heat signature in nearby bushes. Officers approached and found Dustin C. Rauscher, 40, hiding. He was taken into custody without incident.
Rauscher was not identified as the driver of the stolen truck but is connected to earlier attempted vehicle thefts. He was booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of two counts of attempted motor vehicle theft and an outstanding felony warrant for violating a domestic violence order of protection.
Deputies said that they are continuing to investigate the situation, including the identities of two additional suspects believed to have fled the scene. It remains unclear who was driving the stolen truck or if Rauscher knew it was stolen.
Rauscher appeared in court on October 23, where his bond was set at $15,000. The investigation is ongoing.
