9-Time Convicted Felon in Possession of 3 Stolen Handguns
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Deputies arrested a 9-time convicted felon for unlawful possession of a firearm, later determined to be stolen, during a traffic stop. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, after a search warrant was obtained, two additional handguns, both loaded and reported stolen, were located. Additionally, controlled substances (Heroin, Methamphetamine, Psilocybin Mushrooms) and stolen property were recovered.
On July 16, 2019, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Deputy Clay Hilton observed a male wearing a red shirt standing next to a black Honda in the 7200 block of N. Altamont. The vehicle had no visible license plate displayed, and as Deputy Hilton drove toward it, the male noticed the marked patrol car and ran northbound.
Deputy Hilton checked the VIN number of the Honda and learned it had not been reported as stolen. He noted the steering column appeared damaged and wires were hanging out from under the dashboard. Deputy Hilton began looking for the male who fled as Spokane Regional Emergency Communications (SREC) Dispatcher attempted to contact the registered owner of the Honda without success.
Unable to locate the male, Deputy Hilton met with Deputy Acosta approximately two blocks away. While they spoke, a white passenger vehicle (Buick) parked directly behind the Honda. Believing the car may be associated with this incident, Deputy Acosta pulled forward to contact the occupants of the Buick. The driver, later identified as 26-year-old Cyle L. Dewey, made a quick U-turn and took off at a high rate of speed. North of Weile on Crestline, Deputy Acosta caught up to the Buick and observed Dewey was wearing a red shirt, matching the description of the male who fled earlier.
Deputy Acosta conducted a traffic stop of the Buick and contacted Dewey and two adult passengers (female seated in the back seat and a male sitting next to her). A check of Dewey’s name revealed he had an active Washington State Department of Corrections Escape Community Custody felony warrant for his arrest.
Dewey was arrested for his warrant, and it was determined he was not the male who fled from Deputy Hilton.
Deputy Hilton and Deputy Overbay identified the male in the back seat as 46-year-old William H. Lister. During the contact, Deputy Overbay observed Lister reaching around and behind him, despite commands to stop. Lister, a convicted felon with officer safety alerts for carrying firearms and being anti-law enforcement, was removed from the vehicle and detained in handcuffs. A hypodermic needle was observed on the floorboard and a small pistol, later determined to be stolen, was observed wedged between the seat where Lister was sitting.
Lister, a 9-time convicted felon (convictions include burglary, criminal mischief with a deadly weapon, taking a motor vehicle without consent, attempt to elude a police vehicle, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, manslaughter 2nd degree, vehicle prowling 1st degree) and prohibited from possessing a firearm, was arrested for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm 1st Degree (UFP).
Lister and Dewey were transported to the Spokane County Jail and booked for their charges.
The vehicle was seized pending a search warrant. The adult female passenger was released without charges.
On July 22, 2019, Deputy Hilton and Deputy Acosta executed the search warrant of the vehicle. They located a black backpack inside the car which contained: Lister’s wallet/WA State ID, two loaded Glock 9mm handguns which were reported stolen during a residential burglary, gift cards, a pill bottle containing a white crystalline substance believed to be Methamphetamine, a plastic bag with a brown plantlike material believed to be Psilocybin Mushrooms, two multi-colored containers with a black tar-like substance believed to be Heroin, digital scales, and other drug paraphernalia, in addition to fifteen collector coins. In the vehicle, a black wallet/ID, checks, and other miscellaneous items belonging to the burglary victim were located.
The believed controlled substances were field test and showed a presumptive positive result for Heroin, Methamphetamine, and Psilocybin Mushrooms.
Lister, still in custody for his original charge of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm 1st Degree - $10,000 bond, is now being held on 11 new felony charges (Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm 1st Degree, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Stolen Property 2nd Degree) and a misdemeanor charge of Possession of Stolen Property 3rd Degree with an additional bond of $20,000.
