Uncooperative Trespass Suspect & Convicted Felon Found in Possession of a Handgun with an Altered Serial Number and Drugs
Spokane Valley Patrol Deputies arrested a male, sleeping in his car at a closed credit union after refusing to leave the parking lot of the closed business. The male, a convicted felon, was arrested without the use of force. A handgun containing a loaded magazine and a white crystallized substance believed to be Methamphetamine was recovered from the vehicle. Upon closer inspection, the serial number of the firearm had been altered/removed. The suspect was booked into jail for two felonies and two misdemeanor charges.
On July 15, 2020, at approximately 4:10 a.m., Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a reported suspicious vehicle parked at a closed credit union in the 9200 block of E. Mission.
Arriving at the scene, Deputy Materne contacted the caller; a security officer contracted to manage the credit union’s property.
The security officer stated he observed the late 90’s Oldsmobile parked in the lot of the closed financial institution. He had checked the area a couple of hours prior, and the vehicle was not there. He requested to have anyone inside the car contacted and trespassed from the location.
Deputy Materne approached the vehicle and observed blankets and towels placed over the windows to obstruct anyone’s view. He knocked on the windows loudly and verbally identified himself and police multiple times without a response. As he continued to try and contact anyone inside, a male, later identified as 45-year-old Frank A. Mead, pulled one of the blankets down, revealing himself and the inside on the car.
Deputy Materne told Mead he was parked in a private lot of a closed business, trespassing and needed to leave immediately. Instead of complying, Mead looked at the Deputy and then laid back down.
Deputy Materne observed mail addressed to “Frank”, a few empty bottles of liquor, and what appeared to be a glass marijuana pipe. He continued to try and get Mead to comply or respond as Deputy Kauffman arrived to assist.
The security officer confirmed he wanted Mead charged with trespassing since it appeared he didn’t want to cooperate. A check of the vehicle identification number showed it was registered to Mead out of Fremont County, Wyoming.
As they continued to try and wake Mead, Deputy Kauffman announced he observed a black semi-auto handgun near Mead’s feet. The Deputies moved back to their patrol car to create distance to avoid a violent conflict and requested additional Deputies to assist.
Continual announcements over the patrol car’s PA system went unanswered.
Dispatchers contacted Fremont County, Wyoming, and learned Mead was a convicted felon, prohibited from possessing firearms. Additionally, the convictions were for violent crimes, he was known to be intoxicated, and Deputies were advised to use caution when contacting him.
With Mead trespassing and his failure to respond or comply with commands continually provided over a PA system coupled with his criminal history and apparent unlawful access to a firearm as a convicted felon, Deputies devised a plan to use ballistic shields to approach safely and contact Mead.
Mead’s hands remain visible, but he remained nonresponsive. Entry was made into the vehicle through an unlocked door. Mead was quickly taken into custody without incident.
After being advised of his rights, he admitted he ignored Deputies hoping they’d leave, and he wouldn’t be arrested for unlawfully possessing a firearm. He purchased the handgun, a Hi-Point 45 ACP with a loaded magazine, and figured it might be stolen after noticing someone had tried to remove the serial number.
A small plastic baggie containing a white crystalline substance was also recovered. A field test showed a presumptive positive result for Methamphetamine.
Mead was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm 2nd Degree, Possession of a Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm with Altered/Obliterated ID Marks, and Criminal Trespassing 2nd Degree.
Later in the day, Mead was released from jail on his own recognizance following his court appearance.