One arrested after two stolen vehicles recovered in College Place

COLLEGE PLACE, Wash.-- A man faces several charges after police arrested him in connection with the theft of two pick-up vehicles.

College Place Police officers were on the scene of an unrelated call on SE Elm Ave. at about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon when a white Toyota pick-up truck drove by. Officers recognized the vehicle as matching the description of a truck that had been stolen out of Milton-Freewater and involved in short pursuit earlier in the morning.

As the truck drove by, officers documented the license plate and description of the driver, then ran the plates and confirmed the vehicle that had been stolen earlier in the day.

Officers drove through the area until they located the white pick-up parked in an alley in the 500 block of SE 5th Street, alongside another vehicle that was also confirmed stolen.

When attempts to contact occupants at the residence failed, officers started the process of applying for a search warrant. After a short time, a tenant at the home arrived on the scene and gave officers permission to search the residence.

Inside, they located Daniel L. Strain, 33, hiding in a closet. Two other people were found in a bedroom and were detained for questioning.

Officers were able to confirm that Strain was the person they witnessed driving the stolen vehicle. Once the search warrant was approved, officers located drug paraphernalia, and several sets of shaved keys, used to enter and steal vehicles of certain makes and models. Other stolen property was also located in the home, and all of the stolen items were returned to their rightful owners.

Investigators noted that the area has seen an uptick in the number of vehicle thefts, particularly with 80's and 90's model Toyota pick-up trucks.

Strain was booked into the Walla Walla County Jail got possession of a stolen vehicle, along with other outstanding warrants.vehicl