Stolen Vehicle, Drugs, Multiple Warrants, and Two Arrests
Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested two suspects inside a reported stolen vehicle which was parked in Rimrock View Trail parking lot on the north side of Palisades Park. The driver was arrested for possession of a motor vehicle and a warrant for theft of a motor vehicle. The passenger was arrested for multiple felony warrants in addition to new charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Identity Theft 2nd Degree.
On December 3, 3019, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Taylor Smith observed a vehicle parked in the parking lot of Rimrock View Trail and Park located at 150 S. Rimrock Drive. With the park only open during daytime hours and knowing the areas like this are frequented by subjects who use illegal drugs, dump trash, or hide stolen vehicles, Deputy Smith maintained a visual of the car while another Deputy responded to assist. During that time, the dome light of the suspicious vehicle turned on and off several times.
With Deputy Alex Velikodnyy arriving in the area, Deputy Smith drove toward the suspicious vehicle and activated her overhead emergency lights as the car began to drive toward her. Deputy Smith illuminated the vehicle with her spotlight, and the driver, later identified as 41-year-old Larry D. Flett Jr., stopped.
As Deputy Smith approached the vehicle, she informed Dispatch of the license plate via her radio. She was immediately advised the license plate returned on a reported stolen blue Chevrolet Aveo, which matched the car she was approaching. Flett and the passenger, identified as 43-year-old Billie J. Montelongo, complied with commands and were detained pending the investigation.
Deputy Smith began to search Montelongo for weapons, and Montelongo said, “I have a baggie of meth in there. I’m not going to lie to you.”. A check of Montelongo’s name revealed she had a Washington State Department of Corrections felony warrant for her arrest in addition to five other felony warrants for Theft, Identity Theft, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. A clear plastic baggie containing a crystal-like substance with some large crystal pieces and a baggie containing a black tar-like substance was recovered from Montelongo’s front sweatshirt pocket.
Montelongo asked for her white purse and prescription medication, which was in a Crown Royal bag sitting next to her purse on the passenger’s side floor, to be retrieved. During a search of the purse and Crown Royal bag for weapons or illegal items, a digital scale, multiple (40+) empty green small plastic baggies commonly used to separate and distribute smaller amounts of illicit drugs, and drug paraphernalia were discovered. Additionally, a wallet, driver’s license, checkbook, and various gift cards belonging to a person identified as a victim of a vehicle prowling on December 2, 2019, were located.
Flett stated he bought the Aveo from his friend, “Alex” for $1000 cash. He was unable to provide any contact information for his friend or a bill of sale for the vehicle. A check of Flett’s name showed an active felony warrant for Vehicle Theft.
Later, field tests of the substances removed from Montelongo’s pocket showed presumptive positive results for Methamphetamine and Heroin.
The confirmed stolen vehicle contained several items believed to be stolen. The victim was notified the car was recovered, and the Aveo was impounded pending a search warrant.
Flett and Montelongo were transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail.
Flett was booked for new charges of Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle and two warrants for Theft of a Motor Vehicle and Driving While Suspended 2nd Degree. He is currently being held on a $10,250 bond.
Montelongo was booked on new charges of Identity Theft 2nd Degree, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver-Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance-Heroin and her warrants: two counts of Theft 2nd Degree, two counts of Identity Theft 2nd Degree, Trafficking in Stolen Property 1st Degree, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Theft, and a Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) hold. She is currently being held on a $22,250 bond and the DOC hold.