One hid in the trash, another got stuck on a stump. Kennewick police busy with hit-and-runs

A 30-year-old man was found hiding inside a trash can Sunday evening after he ran from a crash because he allegedly was driving a stolen car.

Eduardo Larios was one of two suspects arrested in Kennewick over the weekend in separate hit-and-run cases.

The other, on Saturday night, involved a 23-year-old suspected of driving drunk when his car got stuck on top of a tree stump.

In one of the crashes, emergency dispatchers first received a call about 5 p.m. Sunday for a collision at West Fourth Avenue and South Vancouver Street.

The caller said one driver said he did not want police called, and was overheard saying the car may be stolen, according to a Kennewick police Facebook post.

Neighbor’s dog bit suspect

The driver ran off as police started arriving, but not before officers recognized him as Larios, the police posting said. They reportedly knew him because he had an active arrest warrant.

The vehicle he was driving was quickly confirmed to be stolen from Benton County, according to police.

Larios was spotted at Vancouver and West Sixth Avenue, but again took off once contacted. He was seen jumping over fences and running through yards, with one resident reporting that his dog bit the man, the Facebook post said.

Police surrounded the neighborhood and brought in police dog Ivan to track him A tipster helped by telling dispatchers they saw a man hiding in their trash can, police said.

Larios was arrested and taken to a Tri-City hospital to be treated for injuries from the car crash and dog bite.

He was booked into the Benton County jail at 10 p.m. Sunday on suspicion of possessing a stolen car, obstructing a public servant and three counts each of second-degree criminal trespass and hit-and-run.

Stump ends alleged escape

In the earlier case, police say Jose Perez was driving on Highway 395 when he hit another vehicle.

A short time later, officers got word of a hit-and-run near Canal Drive and Yelm Street, a few blocks off the highway.

That’s where they found Perez. He was unable to get his car off a stump where it had landed, police said.

The case was handed over to Washington State Patrol troopers for investigation.

He was booked into the jail at 1 a.m. Sunday on an investigative hold for DUI and hit-and-run.

This story was originally published January 20, 2020 at 12:48 PM.