Resident Confronts Doggy Door Burglar
A homeowner, shocked to find a male crawling through a doggy door into her house, was able to snap a picture of the suspect’s vehicle as it fled from her driveway. The next day, Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy Alex Velikodnyy observed a vehicle matching the vehicle in the photo and conducted a traffic stop. After further investigation, 54-year-old Bobby J. Holt was arrested for several charges, including residential burglary.
On February 16, 2018, prior to 2:00 p.m., Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies Dan Middlebos, Dave Trautman and Alex Velikodnyy responded to a report of a homeowner who had just confronted a burglar entering her home.
The victim told Deputy Middlebos she was working from home when she heard her doorbell ring three times. She looked out and observed a male she didn’t recognize. She decided not to answer the door but she continued to watch as the male walked from the porch and disappeared around the front of the home. She went back to work but suddenly heard what sounded like someone pounding on the doggy door located on the back lower level of her residence. She went to see what was happening and found he had already pulled the doggy door from the wall and had crawled through, entering her home. When she yelled at the male, he looked very surprised, turned, and fled out the rear slider into the back yard. She ran to the front door as the suspect recklessly fled in his vehicle, but she had just enough time to snap a picture.
An alert neighbor also observed the suspect and his vehicle and provided information to Deputies.
Deputies searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect or his vehicle, an older green/gray van with a white stripe.
The next day, Deputy Velikodnyy noticed a vehicle matching the picture of the suspect’s parked at the gas station located at Thor and 3rd Avenue. He stopped the vehicle and contacted the driver, later identified as Holt, near 4th on Ferrall. Holt was detained and advised of his rights. Holt admitted the van was his and he was driving it yesterday. When asked specifically about the burglary, he said he let a friend borrow it for part of the afternoon, but he was unable to provide his friend’s name.
A check of Holt’s name turned up a felony Washington State Department of Corrections warrant and information his driving privileges were suspended. Holt was advised he was under arrest for the warrant and driving while suspended. During a search subsequent to his arrest, Deputy Velikodnyy located a syringe cap with a white powdery substance inside. The substance was field tested and showed a positive result for Methamphetamine. Holt also had $700 in cash (mostly 20s, with a few 10s and 5s) and two small memory drives in his pocket.
While Deputy Velikodnyy conducted the traffic stop and investigated the new crimes, Deputy Middlebos printed photo montages containing Holt’s picture and contacted the victim of the burglary and her neighbor. Both positively identified Holt as the male suspect they observed the previous day.
Holt was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Residential Burglary, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Driving while Suspended 3rd Degree and his felony warrant.
Holt’s vehicle was impounded as evidence and a search warrant was requested. On February 18, 2018, Deputy Velikodnyy executed the search warrant and located electronic scales, numerous baggies, loose pills and more Methamphetamine. With the additional information, Deputy Velikodnyy completed paperwork recommending Holt be charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver.