Citizens capture suspected Tri-Cities motorcycle thief in Walmart parking lot

A 31-year-old Connell man allegedly stole three motorcycles over the course of a week from people who had placed ads to sell the bikes on Facebook.

Jeromy Dale Clark allegedly stole the motorcycles after seeing them posted for sale on Facebook Marketplace across the Tri-Cities between Oct. 28 and Nov. 5, Kennewick police said.

Clark contacted the people through the online service and expressed interest in buying the bikes. After meeting the sellers, he asked to take a test drive and then would disappear with them, police said.

He was meeting another seller at the Walmart parking lot in Kennewick on Saturday, Nov. 5, when a group of people recognized him from a Richland theft posted earlier in the week, said police.

The motorcycle he was riding at the time had been stolen from Pasco earlier in the day, according to police.

The citizens surrounded him while one person called 911 to report that they were trying to restrain a man who had stolen a Kawasaki motorcycle.

Several others called 911 to report a fight in the parking lot, according to police

Clark allegedly refused to listen to police, attacked an officer and struggled with several others during his arrest.

He was booked later into the Benton County jail in Kennewick on suspicion of two counts of vehicle theft, resisting arrest, third-degree assault and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to call Kennewick police at 509-628-0333.

Police encourage anyone selling or buying items online to meet in a well-lit public setting, such as a police station parking lot or another public area during the day.

This story was originally published November 7, 2022 at 12:56 PM.