Gales Creek, Hillside, News

Police in Gales Creek search for burglary suspect, in Hillside for car theft suspect

Two apparently separate incidents in the area drew attention from Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies—and a K9 unit from Hillsboro Police Department—Sunday, July 10. 

First, on and near Soda Springs Road in Gales Creek, about a half-dozen law enforcement vehicles from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a possible burglary. A K9 unit joined the search, sniffing along a property about midway between Potts Road and Old Wilson River Road on Soda Springs Road. 

Ultimately, law enforcement went home empty-handed, and the K9 did not find their quarry. 

Later that same evening, a number of deputies were spotted on Clapshaw Hill Road close to Shearer Hill Road near the Hillside community; this time, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office said, a caller had told law enforcement they saw one vehicle towing another up the hill, and something seemed off. 

Upon arrival, deputies found the towed car, but not the car that had been pulling it. Something was indeed off; the car had been reported stolen out of Pasco, Washington, and the plates affixed to the vehicle were separately stolen out of Kennewick, Wash.

According to the sheriff’s office, a witness described the vehicle towing the stolen vehicle as a “brown/blue older pickup truck.”

The sheriff’s office told the Journal that the large number of responding deputies were searching for the vehicle reported to be towing the stolen car, but, like in the earlier incident, officers were ultimately unsuccessful. 

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Chas Hundley is the editor of the Gales Creek Journal and sister news publications the Banks Post and the Salmonberry Magazine. He grew up in Gales Creek and has a cat.

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