Robbery Suspect Armed with a Knife Arrested - K9 Bane Locates Evidence
Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a reported robbery at ShopKo on E. Sprague in Spokane Valley. The suspect, later identified as 27 year-old Cody B. Weston, threatened an employee with a knife when confronted about stealing merchandise. He fled the store on foot and ran when deputies initially attempted to contact him. He was arrested and charged with Robbery 1st Degree after deputies found him hiding in some bushes behind a business.
On July 31, 2017, at approximately 6:00 p.m., Spokane Valley Deputy Louis Acosta responded to a report of a suspicious male (Weston) running through yards in the 200 block of S. Evergreen. The description of the suspicious male matched the description of a suspect who had just threatened ShopKo employees with a knife when he was confronted for stealing electronic items.
Gaining additional information about Weston’s location from alert citizens in the area, Deputy Acosta drove east on 3rd Avenue from Evergreen and observed a male matching the description walking eastbound. Knowing Weston was reported to be armed with a knife, Deputy Acosta activated his lights, drew his weapon to a low ready position, and ordered Weston to get on the ground. Weston looked at Deputy Acosta and immediately ran. Failing to obey commands to stop, Weston cut through yards as he ran toward Sprague.
Deputy Acosta returned to his patrol car and drove around to the back of Ref Sports Bar on Sprague and observed Weston hiding in some bushes. This time Weston complied with commands and, with the assistance of Deputy Byron Zlateff, they took Weston into custody without incident.
A ShopKo employee identified Weston as the male who stole items from the store, pulled out a knife when he was confronted and threatened the employees, telling them to “back off”.
Deputy Clay Hilton also arrived at the location to assist with his K9 partner Bane. With Weston in custody, Deputy Hilton and K9 Bane began an article search for discarded evidence and property. K9 Bane tracked west from where Weston was arrested and then southbound. During the article search, K9 Bane led Deputy Hilton to and alerted on a discarded Samsung cellphone. After the phone was recovered, K9 Bane continued the track to 3rd near Evergreen to a blue recycle bin and alerted again. Weston’s black folding knife was located hidden on the south side of the bin. A pair of sunglasses was located on top of the bin and a can of pepper spray and two hypodermic needles were found inside.
Weston declined to answer questions or make any statements. He was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Robbery 1st Degree.