“Name Game” Unsuccessful for 8-Time Convicted Felon
A Spokane Valley Deputy encountered a non-compliant passenger during a traffic stop. She wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, failed to follow commands, and tried to use a fictitious name after she was arrested. At the jail, she was identified by Corrections Officers almost immediately. She was booked into jail for a felony warrant and new charges of Failure to Identify and Making False Statements.
On June 20, 2021, at approximately 9:30 pm., Deputy Turner observed a black Honda with no license plates or working taillights on Broadway at I-90. When he caught up to the vehicle, he noticed neither the driver, nor the passenger, were wearing seatbelts.
He activated his emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop as the vehicle pulled into the Rodeway Inn. Deputy Turner contacted the driver, who explained he was stopped earlier and provided several citations as proof.
When Deputy Turner asked the passenger, correctly identified later as 42-year-old Cheryl L. Jacobs, for a valid form of ID, and she said she didn’t have ID. When asked for her name, she became defensive, saying, Why? I’m not driving?” Deputy Turner explained she was not wearing a seatbelt as required by law, and he needed to identify her. Jacobs insisted she was wearing a seatbelt and had just taken it off. Another request to provide her name was declined, and she exited the vehicle stating she needed to leave due to a female issue.
Deputy Turner told her to stop and that she was not free to leave. Again, Jacobs stated she did nothing wrong, she didn’t need to provide her name, and she began to walk away. Deputy Turner told her she was being detained and not free to leave. Jacobs then attempted to reach back inside the car and still would not follow instructions. Without knowing if Jacobs had access to weapons, was armed, or why she would not comply with simple orders, Deputy Turned took ahold of her arms and attempted to place them behind her back, telling her to stop.
Jacobs continued to struggle despite commands to stop and warnings if she didn’t, she would be arrested. With Jacobs continuing to resist efforts to be placed in handcuffs, Deputy Turner used his radio to advise he needed emergency assistance. As he did, Jacobs attempted to use the opportunity of only being held by one hand to push away from the vehicle. Deputy Turner immediately grabbed her with his second hand and moved her to the ground, where her movements could be controlled. She was told she was under arrest. Jacobs replied, “What did I do? What did I do?”. After being told she was under arrest, she complied and was placed in handcuffs.
Deputy Turner looked over to check the driver who remained in the car with his hands on the steering wheel. He was told not to move, and he followed commands.
Still, without backup, Deputy Turner noticed several people beginning to gather. He searched Jacobs for weapons, got her off the ground, and secured her in the backseat of the patrol car.
Jacobs was advised of her rights and agreed to answer questions. She said she still didn’t understand what she did wrong, and the information was given to her again. She said she wasn’t injured and verbally identified herself with a full name and date of birth making her 23-years-old, not 42. Suspicious, Deputy Turner asked her age, and she said 23 and even provided a home address in Alaska. A check of the information provided showed no valid ID history. Deputy Turner asked several more times, and Jacobs confirmed it 3 or 4 times. Jacobs explained she hadn’t been arrested in Spokane County and came down from Alaska on a ferry. She claimed to have an ID in her backpack, but the backpack was checked with her consent, and no ID was found.
The driver stated he had just met the passenger but told him her name was “Alicia”. He was released from the scene.
Jacobs was transported to the Spokane County Jail to be booked and fingerprinted. During the transport, Jacobs repeatedly asked if she could be cited and released, wanting Deputy Turner to use the information Jacobs verbally provided.
At the jail, booking officers immediately recognized Jacobs as a frequent guest and had her correct name and date of birth within five minutes. A check of her name revealed a felony Washington State Department of Corrections warrant for Escape Community Custody (original charge Assault 3rd Degree). Further checks found she was linked with six aliases and six felony convictions in Washington (Assault 3rd, Taking Motor Vehicle without Permission 2nd, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Theft of a Motor Vehicle (3-counts), Possession of a Controlled Substance-Conspiracy, and Trafficking Stolen Property).
She was booked into jail for her felony warrant and her additional new charges of Failure to Identify and Making False Statements.