A 17-time convicted felon tried to hide out in a laundromat to avoid arrest on Wednesday. It didn't work.
The Sheriff's Office says a Spokane Valley deputy noticed a car with a damaged windshield pull into a gas station near Sprague and Mullan late Wednesday night. The driver, later identified as 34-year-old Ryan L. Cheers, left the car running and walked into the gas station. As the deputy pulled in, he saw Cheers leave the gas station and walk into a nearby laundromat.
The deputy says Cheers stared at the patrol car from inside the laundromat, despite not having any laundry to do, while leaving his car running at the gas pump.
The deputy left the area but went to a spot where he could still watch Cheers' suspicious behavior.
A few minutes later, Cheers left the laundromat, looked around, noticed the patrol car and then made a call on his cell phone. Cheers eventually began walking away from the gas station and his running car.
The deputy followed Cheers and saw him get into another car where two people were waiting. As the car drove off, the deputy initiated a traffic stop. Cheers was pulled out and put in handcuffs. During a pat down the deputy found an illegal switchblade knife and informed him he was under arrest for possession of a dangerous weapon.
An assisting Sergeant arrived to check the car Cheers left running and found a pistol in a black holster sitting on the driver's seat.
Cheers said he borrowed the car from a friend and said his fingerprints might be on the pistol because he pushed everything in the seat to the side when he borrowed the car but denied knowing about the gun.
The car was seized with what is believed to be stolen property found inside. The gun, a Glock G43 9mm, was later determined to have been stolen during a car prowling back in March.
Cheers was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Possession of a Dangerous Weapon and Driving While Suspended 3rd Degree.
(story: KHQ.com; photo: DOC/2010)