Goob Sticks Honda Plates on Stolen Truck, Doesn’t Fool Cops

Thanks to a watchful neighbor, Kennewick police were able to apprehend a couple of truck thieves Saturday night.

Acting on a tip, the CAT (Criminal Apprehension Team) went to the Nueva Vista Apartments at 386 North Union, just East of Winco Foods. Due to the clientele who are housed at the facility, apparently they know the resident vehicles rather well.

The suspect vehicle, a Ford F-350, was not believed to be belonging to one of the residents. A check of the plates showed they were actually from a 1995 Honda Accord.

Police set up surveillance, and soon afterward William Leonard (the driver) Lonnie Barton Sr. and Maria Romero emerged from one of the units and got in the truck. Turns out the Honda plates were taken off another vehicle owned by Leonard, and he had stolen the truck out of Spokane using the Honda plates.

Leonard was arrested for stealing the truck and an outstanding felony warrant. The other two were released.