On. Jan. 1, Airway Heights police arrested Ronald L. Smith Jr., 34, for first-degree burglary, first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, second-degree possession of stolen property and four charges of theft of a firearm. It didn’t take long for the authorities to find him.
According to Sgt. Robert Swan, Officer Matt Keetch responded to a burglary call on the 100 block of South Easy Street. The victim told Keetch his window was open and he had four firearms and other missing property.
As Keetch was taking the report, he noticed several distinct footprints that went from the victim’s house and led to Smith’s residence on the 900 block of South Beeman Street.
Police placed surveillance on Smith’s residence while they were filling out a search warrant. At approximately 10:15 a.m., a vehicle left the residence, which police stopped at the corner of King Street and 12th Avenue.
“The people left in the residence were a child and an elderly lady,” Swan said.
After talking with the woman, police moved her and the child to a safe location. Once the warrant was approved, they went into the residence and found items stolen from the house on South Easy Street, as well as more stolen property in a detached shed.
“We must have taken 3-4 carts of stolen items back to the police station,” Swan said.
Swan added the guns will be tested for fingerprints and most of the other stolen items were returned owners.
Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.
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