Woman chases stolen car through Pasco

A west side woman followed a car thief across the mountains and confronted him in Pasco before he was arrested, Pasco police said.

The woman drove with a relative from her home in Centralia to the Tri-Cities to get her car back from Ray J. Schindewolf, 30, of Richland.

One of the woman’s family members allegedly spotted Schindewolf grab the keys Monday night before the Chevy Cobalt went missing, said Centralia police Sgt. Kurt Reichert.

The woman’s family knew Schindewolf had connections to the Tri-Cities.

About 6 p.m. Tuesday, the owner and her relative were in Pasco looking for the car.

They spotted it near 14th Avenue and Sylvester Street. The car stopped near 20th Avenue and Court Street, Pasco police said.

The woman tried confronting Schindewolf about the theft, but he backed up the car, hitting another car and allegedly knocking down the woman.

Schindewolf drove away, but the woman and her relative gave chase in their car.

After running a stop light, the two cars ended up in the parking lot of the Pasco Red Lion Motor Inn.

Schindewolf bailed on the car and hid in some shrubs in the courtyard, police said. Officers arrived shortly afterward and found him.

Schindewolf was booked into the Franklin County jail on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle.

Pasco police said they also are investigating him for reckless driving and assault.

Reichert and Pasco police say Schindewolf is a suspect in the initial theft.

Pasco police ask people to call 911 before chasing people through the city.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Pasco Police Department at 509-545-3421 or email boykinb@pasco-wa.gov.

This story was originally published January 31, 2018 at 12:28 PM with the headline "Woman chases stolen car through Pasco."