Welfare Check Ends with Wanted Felon’s Arrest
Suspected Meth/Fentanyl and a Stolen Pistol Recovered
Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a welfare check of a driver passed out in a running vehicle. They contacted the driver, who had an active felony warrant for his arrest. After observing a firearm on the driver's side floor and suspected methamphetamine, the car was seized, and a search warrant was obtained. Deputies located a reported stolen, loaded pistol, suspected methamphetamine and fentanyl, digital scales, and other drug paraphernalia. The suspect was arrested for his warrant, and additional charges of Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm 1st Degree, and Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver, were added later.
On July 21, 2022, at approximately 5:00 am, Deputy Lederle, Deputy Kyle, and Deputy Goode responded to a welfare check in the area of E. 24th Avenue and E. Forrest Avenue in Spokane Valley. The caller stated that a male driver appeared to be passed out in a running silver 2016 Ford Fusion, blocking Forrest Avenue.
Deputies located the vehicle as described and observed a male, later identified as 39-year-old Felix W. Schuck, sitting in the driver’s seat and appeared to be passed out. Two Deputies positioned their marked patrol cars to the front and back of the vehicle to stop Schuck from driving away if he should try.
Deputies placed the vehicle in park and removed the keys before waking Schuck. He was compliant and detained. A check of his name revealed he was not licensed and had two active warrants, a felony Washington State Department of Corrections warrant, and a misdemeanor Hit and Run warrant for his arrest.
Deputy Lederle observed a semi-automatic pistol and a $100.00 bill on the driver’s side floorboard, next to where Schuck’s feet had been. Chunks of a white crystalline substance, believed to be methamphetamine, were observed in a clear glass container sitting in the center console’s cup holder. Other drug paraphernalia was also observed, including scales, aluminum foil, “tooters” (snort tubes), and needles, some appearing to be loaded.
A check of Schuck’s criminal history showed he had felony convictions for a Violation of a Domestic Violence No Contact Order and Criminal Mischief-Deadly Weapon, prohibiting him from legally possessing a firearm.
Schuck was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for his felony and misdemeanor warrants. The vehicle was seized pending a search warrant.
On July 22, 2022, Deputy Lederle and Deputy Kyle searched the vehicle with a signed search warrant in hand. A loaded 9mm Ruger semi-automatic pistol reported stolen in Ephrata was recovered. The clear glass jar with the suspected methamphetamine (approximately 15.2 grams) was removed and tested, showing a presumptive positive result for methamphetamine.
They also located: 9mm ammunition, needles, digital scales, a clear bag with ten pills believed to contain fentanyl, and other items of evidentiary value.
Schuck, still in jail, was additionally charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm 1st Degree, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, and Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute.
