Deputies, Responding to Two Separate Calls,
Noticed Similarities that Led to a Burglary Suspect’s Arrest
Spokane Valley Deputies responded to separate calls in the same general area and worked together to identify and arrest a burglary suspect.
On February 24, 2025, at approximately 9:35 am, Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a reported business burglary in the 7200 block of E. Sprague Avenue.
When Deputies arrived, the employee explained that he had found a broken vase near the west window, which was unsecured, and that the keys belonging to three vehicles parked on the lot were missing.
He checked the surveillance video and observed that a white male on a bicycle forced entry into the business and stole the keys, which he estimated the replacement cost to be approximately $1,500.
The Deputy noted the burglary suspect was a white male with a goatee and a light mustache. He had a noticeable crease above his nose, just below his eyebrows, and appeared to be wearing a red cap, a black and gray jacket, black gloves, light blue jeans, and a pair of rubber two-toned boots. The Deputy also noticed the suspect had his pants tucked into his boots, and a partial tattoo just above the collar of his jacket was visible.
At approximately 10:55 am, a different Deputy responded to a call where a male was reportedly jumping in and out of the backyards in the 6300 block of E. 10th Avenue.
A Deputy arrived in the area and was flagged down by another witness reporting an unknown male suspect was in his yard but had just jumped into his neighbor’s yard.
Deputies began searching the area and located a male who matched the description provided by the witnesses, walking in some brush at 11th Avenue and Dickey Street. The Deputy activated the emergency lights of his fully marked patrol car and detained the male, identified as 36-year-old Michael A. Luciano.
During the investigation, the callers who reported the male as suspicious stated they didn’t find anything missing and declined to be victims of a crime. However, the Deputy investigating the earlier reported burglary arrived at the location and recognized Luciano as his previous suspect.
The Deputy observed Luciano’s pants were tucked into his boots, and he had a crease above his nose just below his eyebrows and a goatee. He also observed that Luciano had a tattoo, as observed in the victim business’s security video.
Without being asked, Luciano spontaneously uttered that he didn’t know where he left his bicycle.
Luciano was advised of his rights and agreed to answer questions. He said he was being chased by people who wanted to kill him, but he also admitted to using methamphetamine, which may have contributed to the belief he was being chased. He denied committing the burglary.
A search of the area to try and locate Luciano’s bicycle and the stolen keys was unsuccessful.
Luciano was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Burglary 2nd Degree and Theft 2nd Degree. He was also found to have a non-extraditable California felony warrant for his arrest.
At his court appearance yesterday, Spokane County Superior Court Commissioner E. Cruz set Luciano’s total bond at $1,000.
This Spokane County Sheriff Office news article "Deputies, Responding to Two Separate Calls, Noticed Similarities that Led to a Suspect’s Arrest" was originally found on https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=7