A 21-year-old man is accused of stealing his mother's Jeep Cherokee, then running away when he was involved in a hit-and-run accident.
Jonathan Mendizaval Morales of Pasco denied having any involvement, but a witness identified him as the man who left the crash scene before police arrived, court documents said.
Morales pleaded innocent to second-degree taking a vehicle without permission. His trial is set for Jan. 6.
According to Pasco police, the Jeep was in an accident Aug. 20 at Ninth Avenue and Bonneville Street. Morales took off on foot westbound from the scene without first identifying himself, police said in court documents.
Officers then contacted the registered owner of the Jeep and found it belonged to Morales' mom. She said her son took it without her permission and she wanted him arrested for it, documents said.
A few minutes later, Morales was seen walking on 10th Avenue near Court Street. He was arrested on the allegation.
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