Mason Detectives Track Down Stolen Truck After Victim Sees It on Craigslist

Shelton, WA - A three week investigation culminated with the arrest of a Shelton man Thursday. Chief Deputy Dean Byrd with the Mason County Sheriff's Office tells us the investigation began on September 5, 2012 when a Seattle man reported the theft of his uncle’s 1968 GMC truck. During the investigation Detectives learned the GMC truck was now registered to the suspect in the case, and was for sale on Craig’s List. The truck had not been discovered stolen until the victim’s nephew found it listed for sale on Craig’s List. Further investigation noted forged documents were filed with the Washington State Department of Licensing in order to change the title out of the victim’s name and into the suspect's name.

Early Thursday, SWAT deputies and SOG Detectives staked out the suspect's residence in the 1500 block of Jensen Road. At about 7:15 AM the man was stopped and arrested just after leaving his residence. A short time later SWAT Deputies and SOG Detectives served a search warrant.

Detectives are currently conducting a search for further evidence in this matter.

The suspect in the case is currently being held at the Mason County Jail pending his first court appearance that is expected to occur to sometime tomorrow. He is charged with two counts of Forgery, Trafficking in Stolen Property and Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.

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The Mason County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Group has recently expanded its mission from narcotics enforcement to narcotics and property crimes enforcement. Refocusing SOG’s mission has been instrumental in several high profile property crime arrests and recovery of several thousand dollars in stolen property within the last month. We expect these successes to continue.

Both Special Operations Group and SWAT are multijurisdictional teams that are operated by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office in cooperation with the Washington Department of Corrections, Shelton Police Department, and Squaxin Island Tribal Police. Both multijurisdictional teams function county wide and are critical elements in keeping our citizens safer.