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WALLA WALLA -- Authorities are looking for a couple whose car contained several handguns believed to have been among 27 stolen in a burglary of Worm Ranch earlier this month.
Police say a traffic stop on Dec. 23 uncovered eight guns in a car driven by Carmen R. Smith, 33, with Pastor Tapia Nunez, 25, as a passenger.
Officer Gunnar Fulmer's dog, Rev, detected a scent of narcotics in the vehicle, so Smith and Nunez were told the car would be held until a search warrant arrived, police said.
Rather than force the couple to wait for an hour or more for the warrant, officers allowed them to leave, said Det. Sgt. Randy Allessio.
Officers became suspicious about the vehicle and occupants because Nunez kept his head covered by a hooded sweatshirt and appeared furtive in trying to put something inside a soda drink can under the front seat, Allessio said.
The suspected drug was crystal meth, the officer said.
The search also found two loaded handguns in the front seat, and six others in the car, Allessio said. Six of the weapons were among 27 guns reported stolen Dec. 15.
Police attempted to search the homes of Smith and Nunez on Christmas Eve day, but did not locate them.
Allessio said the two are considered armed and dangerous and are wanted on suspicion of possession of stolen firearms and possession of controlled substances.
Smith also uses the name Carma. Nunez has tattoos on his forearms, one saying "Brown" and the other saying "Pride.".
Anyone with information about the two should contact the Walla Walla Police Investigations Unit at 509-527-4434.
Police arrest teen in 2 Oregon car thefts
HERMISTON -- A 15-year-old has been arrested for allegedly stealing two vehicles, including one that had been left running in front of a Hermiston home early Christmas Eve, police said.
Hermiston Police recovered a 1995 Honda Civic at an apartment complex on Sunday. It was taken about 6 a.m. Christmas Eve from a home in the 600 block of N.W. Third Street, police said.
The Umatilla County Sheriff's Office arrested the teen, whose name and hometown were not released, on Monday for allegedly stealing another car that day.
The teen was arrested on suspicion of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, first-degree criminal mischief, second-degree theft and attempted unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, police said. He was being held in the Umatilla County jail.
Hermiston Police Lt. Tim Beinert said drivers should not leave their vehicles unattended while the engine is idling.
"Leaving a vehicle running, unattended and unsecured is dangerous and inviting criminal activity," he said in a statement.
2 men jailed following Prosser armed robbery
A Prosser man and a Grandview man were in jail following an armed robbery that occurred at C&L Auction in Prosser on Monday.
Benton County sheriff's deputies are looking for a third suspect, said sheriff's Capt. Steve Keane.
The three men allegedly pulled up to the store at 130801 Shelby Road at 4 p.m. One entered the business, showed a gun to the male clerk, and got away with several hundred dollars, Keane said.
Sheriff's deputies who were alerted to the robbery quickly found and began following the suspects' car, which was northbound on Gap Road near King Tull Road, Keane said.
One man jumped from the getaway vehicle as deputies tried to pull it over, but sheriff's deputies caught him with the help of a police dog after chasing him for a mile on foot, authorities said.
The suspects' car was found abandoned on Wilgus Road. Officers later found a second man in Pasco.
Juan M. Domingez-Robles, 22, of Prosser, and Jesus Castro-Hernandez, 40, of Grandview, were booked into Benton County jail on suspicion of first-degree robbery, the sheriff's office said. The third suspect remained at large Tuesday.
"Kudos to the cops," said Carole Redman, who owns the store with her husband Lawrence.
"I'm surprised everything worked to get them. And we're glad the man who was watching the store for us didn't get hurt. If we get the money back, that will be even better," she said.
-- John Trumbo: 582-1529; jtrumbo@tricityherald.com
