SVIU Detectives Make Arrests & Recover Jewelry. Is it Yours?
Spokane Valley Investigative Unit (SVIU) Detectives investigating the trafficking of stolen property developed information 26-year-old Vyacheslav B. Znovets was involved and began surveilling him. During the surveillance, Detectives attempted to stop him but he fled in his vehicle. Due to their perseverance, Znovets was arrested a short time later after he fled on foot when the vehicle he was driving became stuck in the snow. Through their investigation Detectives recovered this jewelry and are attempting to identify the owner(s) and victims of potentially numerous daytime burglaries.
On February 27, 2018, Spokane Valley Investigative Unit Detectives were surveilling Znovets who was suspected trafficking stolen property and/or committing burglaries. They observed him park his vehicle in the area of Center and Upriver Drive. After he left, Detectives checked the area and found the front door of a residence forced open and the interior ransacked.
When they attempted to stop Znovets in his vehicle, he fled from them and assisting patrol Deputies. For the safety of the public in the area, the short pursuit was terminated. Detectives, in unmarked vehicles, continued the search. They relocated him a short time later but an attempt to block him in was unsuccessful. Znovets avoided a second attempt to block him near 8th and Park. He fled south on Park Road where he lost control of his vehicle, struck a snowbank in the 2000 block, and became stuck. Znovets fled on foot into the woods with Detective Jeff Thurman, and soon after Detective Sean Walter, giving chase. Znovets was uncooperative when he was captured and continued to reach toward his waistband area during a struggle. Strikes were applied to gain compliance and he was eventually placed in handcuffs. During a search for weapons after his arrest, a fixed blade knife was located in area he appeared to be reaching toward. Detectives identified the knife as one reported stolen during a burglary in Liberty Lake.
Detectives immediately secured Znovets’ residence, located in the 4100 block of E. Hartson, and obtained a search warrant. When the warrant was served, they detained six people inside. One of the people detained was 26-year-old Marina A. Florianovich. During the investigation, Detectives had determined Florianovich pawned stolen property from a Liberty Lake burglary.
One male who was outside, later identified as 31-year-old Vitaliy A. Budimir, attempted to flee on foot. He threw what was later found to be Methamphetamine, Heroin, and a drug pipe before he was caught and arrested.
During a thorough search of the residence, Detectives recovered numerous additional items identified as stolen during the Liberty Lake burglary. They also recovered an estimated $10,000 in suspected stolen jewelry in addition to several precious stones which appeared to have been removed from their settings.
Znovets received medical attention for minor injuries before he was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for 2 counts of Residential Burglary, Attempting to Elude a Police Vehicle, 2 counts of Traffic in Stolen Property 1st Degree, Theft 2nd Degree and a felony Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) warrant (original charges: two counts Burglary 2nd Degree).
Florianovich was charged with Trafficking Stolen Property 2nd Degree and Budimir was charged with two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance. Both were released the next day on their own recognizance after their court appearance.
Znovets vehicle was impounded and a search warrant was requested and served the next day. Investigators located approximately $6,500 worth of stolen property inside.
Investigators believe Znovets would commit daytime burglaries where he would enter residences by forcing one of the doors open and ransack them as he looked for items to steal. He would give the stolen property to his girlfriend, Florianovich, and she would pawn or sell the items.
Znovets remains in custody on a $15,000 bond and a DOC hold.
Detectives believe there are additional victims who have not yet been identified and they are actively working to identify the owners of the recovered jewelry in these pictures.
If you believe any of this pictured jewelry is yours, please call Crime Check at 509-456-2233, reference #10020799.
PICTURES Posted HERE