SPOKANE, Wash. — A suspect was arrested for the third time in as many days following a recent crime spree targeting a local business.
According to the Spokane Police Department (SPD), 50-year-old Larry Griffin was booked into the Spokane County Jail for theft of a motor vehicle on September 23. Police said the car was stolen from a business overnight on North Division Street near East Francis Avenue. Police said the vehicle was recovered by employees and returned to the lot.
Griffin was released the following day. However, Spokane Police said officers were dispatched to the same business for reports of vehicle prowling at 1:30 a.m. on September 25. Officers found Griffin inside a car on the lot and was detained, and police learned other vehicles had been entered illegally. Griffin was arrested for three counts of vehicle prowling.
The next day, Spokane Police said they responded to the same business for a stolen vehicle complaint. SPD said employees arrived for work to see another vehicle missing, later recovering it and taking it back to the lot.
SPD said Griffin returned to the lot, and officers found Griffin nearby. SPD said Griffin "was not cooperative when contacted and yelled at officers that they would have to shoot him."
Griffin was arrested on Thursday for theft of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest and obstructing. SPD said Griffin is still in jail.
Two of the three arrests were made at Arrota's Mitsubishi. General Manager Sam Van Valer said thefts on the lot are something to prepare for.
"Knowing it's going to happen [and] doing as much as you can to prevent it," Van Valer said.
Van Valer said Griffin apologized to staff for the thefts. Van Valer also emphasized his dislike of how the series of events was handled.
"I'm not a guy whose crime and punishment, but if there's no consequences at all there's no reason for him to stop," Van Valer said.
Van Valer said they're going to be more diligent with their cars on the lot, but Van Valer said he feels at times thefts are inevitable.
It's just the nature of the business," Van Valer said.
SPD said Griffin has an extensive criminal history. SPD said he was previously convicted for second-degree robbery.