Everett man faces charges in thefts of driver licenses, credit cards
Published 4:43 pm Sunday, June 14, 2009
EVERETT — An Everett man reportedly chose the wrong Costco card to keep in his back pocket.
The card belonged to a Washington State Patrol trooper. Turns out that he is a co-worker of the trooper who stopped the suspected thief.
The man, 31, was pulled over for driving a car without a front license plate. Based on what was found, he now is accused of collecting driver’s licenses, credit and debit cards, and checkbooks belonging to more than a dozen people. Investigators believe the items were taken during multiple car break-ins at parks around the county, according to court documents.
Prosecutors recently charged the man with multiple felony crimes, including possession of stolen property. He has numerous prior convictions for burglary, theft and drug possession.
The traffic stop happened last summer.
A state trooper noticed a car without a front license plate.
The driver allegedly said he didn’t have a license or identification. His wallet had been stolen, the man said.
The trooper, planning to arrest the man for driving without a valid driver’s license, searched the motorist.
He did have a wallet. Not everything in billfold belonged to him.
The trooper recognized the name and picture on the Costco card.
The card belonged to a fellow trooper whose wallet was stolen two weeks earlier.
The driver finally gave up his real name and birth date. He had warrants for his arrest.
The trooper found drug paraphernalia, brass knuckles, and a bag with 15 to 20 different driver’s licenses, credit cards and checkbooks inside the man’s car, according to court documents.
The suspect told police he got the items from a friend. His friend must have stolen them because “that’s what he does,” the man told police.
Many of the victims reported that their wallets or purses were stolen from their vehicles while parked at Howarth Park, Centennial Trail and Picnic Point.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com.
