PULLMAN, WA – Two Spokane residents who allegedly attempted to steal over $1,000 in merchandise from the Pullman Walmart Monday evening were arrested after they ran out of gas after a couple of short pursuits were terminated. According to the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were advised of a theft in progress at Walmart and one of the suspects was fleeing from the store.
“It was determined the suspects had attempted to leave the store with over $1000 in merchandise,” a press release says. “The Pullman Police Department located the suspect vehicle in Pullman and attempted stop the vehicle but the suspects did not stop and the Pullman Police Department terminated the pursuit.”
Deputies located the suspect vehicle in Colfax driving northbound and attempted a stop but the suspects continued to elude.
“The suspect vehicle was travelling over 80 mph in the posted 25 mph speed zone near the Colfax Schools. The Sheriff’s Office terminated the pursuit and the suspect vehicle drove northbound on SR 195 out of Colfax,” officials say. “Deputies checked SR 195 all the way to Rosalia and located the suspect vehicle parked and unoccupied on SR 271 near milepost 7.5 between Rosalia and Oakesdale.”
Deputies later located a male hitchhiking just east of the suspect vehicle on SR 271 who matched the description of the alleged suspect from the Walmart incident. The male, 41-year-old Corey Ness, was arrested for Retail Theft – 2nd Degree.
While leaving the scene the other alleged suspect, 55-year-old Tamia Kimball, attempted to flag down a patrol car for a ride and was arrested for Eluding, Retail Theft – 2nd Degree, and Driving While License Suspended – 3rd Degree.
It was determined the suspect vehicle only stopped because it had run out of gas.
Both suspects were transported to the Whitman County Jail and will make their first court appearance today.
