205 W 5th Ave Ellensburg, WA 98926-2887
Monday - Friday 8 AM - 5 PM
Kittitas (pronounced 'KITT-i-tass') County is located in central Washington State. It spans from the lush forested Cascade Mountains to the upper Yakima River Valley plains and the Columbia River.
Kittitas County, WA - 09/27/2023 - On Tuesday morning, 9/26, Kittitas County Sheriff's Deputy Matt Meckley observed a Ford pickup parked in a disabled-parking stall at the Pilot truck stop in west Ellensburg with no disabled-parking license plate or placard displayed. When he ran the license plate of the truck, it did return to a Ford pickup; but the registration was for a dark green truck, and this pickup was white.
Knowing a license plate mismatch is often a sign of a stolen vehicle, Deputy Meckley tried to inspect the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the truck's dashboard, but found it obscured. While looking into the truck he also noticed a small baggie of what appeared to be methamphetamine in open view on the seat. Deputy Meckley saw a man and woman in the store who appeared to be watching him, but also appeared eager to avoid contact. When he went inside, the clerk confirmed the man and woman were the ones who parked the truck. He also reported they left quickly out the back door of the store. Deputy Meckley stayed with the pickup while partners responded to locate the suspects. Guided by information from employees of the truck stop, they found and detained the man, on foot and almost a mile from the truck stop, and confirmed he was the driver of the Ford. They also learned the identity of the female, who fled in a different direction. Both the captured male and the at-large female had active arrest warrants. Deputy Meckley obtained a warrant to search the Ford for a VIN and illegal drugs. The VIN confirmed that the Ford was reported stolen out of Auburn. Meckley also found around 200 blue pills containing suspected fentanyl, several ounces each of cocaine and heroin, scales obviously used in drug trafficking, more than $3,500 cash, and approximately 1.8 pounds of methamphetamine. The cell phones left in the truck will be searched under warrant for information and evidence in this significant drug trafficking arrest. The driver was booked for Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle and Possession of Controlled Substances with Intent to Deliver. He'll also receive a $450 parking ticket for the disabled-parking violation that started this incident. The female is known to deputies and is expected to be charged after further investigation. The Sheriff's Office is grateful to the citizens who helped prevent these poisons from spreading into our community.
Kittitas County, from the Cascades to the Columbia, and online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us
###
Contact: Inspector Chris Whitsettchristopher.whitsett@co.kittitas.wa.us509-962-7525