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VIDEO: Air 1 Follows Theft Suspects while Guiding Officers on the Ground to their Location
Spokane Regional Air Support Unit’s Air 1, already aloft for a regularly scheduled flight, observes two suspected theft suspects leaving a store in North Spokane after it was reported they had just stolen a large amount of merchandise. Air 1 easily guided several responding ground units to the suspect’s location, and Officers took the suspects into custody despite their efforts to avoid arrest.
On January 17, 2025, at approximately 8:20 pm, Spokane Regional Air Support Unit’s (SRASU) Air 1, already patrolling in the North Spokane area, observed two possible theft suspects leaving the store that was reporting a significant theft.
Employees reported two suspicious males inside the store appeared to be preparing to steal “armloads” of merchandise.
With Air 1 high overhead, Air 1’s Tactical Flight Officers (TFO) observed two suspects running from the store as employees advised the suspects stole a large amount of name-brand clothing.
Air 1’s TFOs observed the suspects walk behind a restaurant and attempt to conceal themselves in a dumpster enclosure. The suspects appeared to begin changing clothes and packing their stolen merchandise in bags before leaving the dumpster enclosure.
Air 1 advised ground units that the suspects were walking northbound on the east side of the Newport Highway before crossing to the west side.
When Spokane Police Officers arrived, they attempted to contact the suspects as they walked south on N. Andrews Street from E. Graves Road, but the suspects began running to avoid them. Air 1 continually tracked the suspect’s location as they fled through a neighborhood, jumping over fences and running through yards.
Both suspects, identified as 20-year-old Logan S. Peterson and 25-year-old Taylor Watson, were eventually taken into custody in the 9800 block of N. Andrews Street.
The stolen merchandise, totaling almost $800.00, was recovered and returned to the store.
Peterson and Watson were transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Theft 2nd Degree, a felony, and misdemeanor Theft 3rd Degree.
Peterson was released on his own recognizance the following day by Spokane County Superior Court Commissioner J. Pelc.
Watson remains in custody with a total bond of $500.00 set by Spokane County Superior Court Commissioner J. Pelc.
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SRASU Air 1 Flight Crew
Pilot: Adam Schroeter
TFO: Officer K. Fritz, Liberty Lake Police
TFO: Detective C. Ruff, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
This Spokane County Sheriff Office news article "VIDEO: Air 1 Follows Theft Suspects while Guiding Officers on the Ground to their Location" was originally found on https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=7