Arrests for auto theft

On November 2, 2017, the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office received a residential burglary report from a complainant who was in the State of Alaska at the time of the reported incident. The complainant/‌victim notified the Sheriff’s Department that she had received information that her Pontiac Firebird had been stolen from her family’s shop, located in Ford, Wash. Investigators also learned that additional vehicles, including some classic cars, were inside the shop and that the suspects’ scheme was to sell several other vehicles from the shop the following day. Investigators learned that the suspects had contacted a tow company and had the tow company tow a stolen Pontiac Firebird to 425 Broadway Avenue in Reardan.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office was involved with the investigation and located a vehicle under a tarp in the front yard of the suspects’ residence and suspected the vehicle to be the stolen Pontiac. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office continued supporting the investigation and provided valuable information to investigators. The Spokane Regional Auto Theft Task Force, consisting of detectives from the Washington State Patrol, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and Spokane Police Department, were notified and assisted the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office with the auto theft investigation.

On November 3, 2017, detectives from the Task Force and Stevens County Sheriff’s Office conducted surveillance on the suspects’ Reardan residence as well as the victim’s property in Ford. During surveillance operations, two of the three suspects were observed arriving at the victim’s property, where they entered the shop. Task Force detectives, a Stevens County Sheriff’s Office detective and deputies, along with a Chewelah Police Department K-9 officer apprehended Andrew Samuelson and Christopher Terrell, who were arrested on the victim’s property. Also, SRATTF detectives located and arrested the third suspect in Airway Heights, Candi Terrell. During the on-scene investigation, two people arrived on scene to purchase more of the stolen vehicles. Detectives also learned of a 1977 Corvette Stingray that was sold out of the shop the previous day.

Following the arrests, investigators conducted a follow-up investigation at the suspects’ residence in Reardan, where additional stolen property belonging to the victim’s family was located/‌recovered.

The three suspects were booked into the Stevens County Jail on numerous felony charges. Some of the charges consisted of burglary, theft of motor vehicles, trafficking in stolen property and forgery. Two of the suspects were also booked on outstanding warrants.

On November 6, 2017, the Task Force recovered the last stolen vehicle from the shop and stolen property in Spokane County (a red 1977 Corvette Stingray).

The following agencies assisted in the investigation: Alaska Department of Public Safety (state troopers), Spokane Regional Auto Theft Task Force, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Stevens County Sheriff’s Office and Chewelah Police Department.