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On Saturday, August 16th, 2014, at about 1:20 a.m., Spokane Valley Sheriff’s Deputy Clay Hilton was patrolling near the area of 12900 E. Indiana. Deputy Hilton was traveling eastbound on Indiana when he observed a male, later identified as 24-year-old Jonathan McElroy, standing in the shadows near the sidewalk. Deputy Hilton noticed McElroy was wearing a hoodie sweatshirt pulled over his face in what appeared to be an attempt to conceal his identity.
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Believing this was suspicious activity, Deputy Hilton parked in an STA parking lot near the business. As Deputy Hilton watched McElroy, he saw a silver vehicle parked west of his location with a female driver slouched down in the driver’s seat as if she were trying to hide. The female was later identified as McElroy’s mother, 45-year-old Sherri Melton.
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As Deputy Hilton watched McElroy, he saw him walk through the shadows near the rear door of the cannabis business. Deputy Hilton watched McElroy lie down on his back and enter the business through a partially open roll up door. Deputy Hilton watched McElroy fully enter the business and once inside, Deputy Hilton drove towards the business. As McElroy exited the business, he started to run towards his mother’s vehicle. Deputy Hilton also saw McElroy was carrying several branches of cannabis plants as he ran.
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Prior to reaching Melton’s vehicle, Deputy Hilton detained McElroy. At that time, Deputy’s Thurman and Bohanek told Deputy Hilton they had contacted Melton and she told them she had driven McElroy to the location and was waiting for him.
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After Melton and McElroy were detained, deputies began to search the business for any other suspects. They were able to locate a co-owner of the business sleeping in a back office. He told deputies he did not know McElroy or Melton and that neither had permission to be inside the business. The co-owner told deputies he inadvertently left the garage door partially open.
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Since the vehicle was used in the commission of a felony, Deputy Hilton called for a tow for the vehicle. While inventorying the vehicle, Deputy Hilton located a sunglass case sitting on the center console. Deputy Hilton was able to see a glass smoking pipe inside the case with burnt residue inside it as well as a clear plastic baggie next to it that contained a white powdery substance that later field tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine.  After speaking with McElroy, it was determined the methamphetamine belonged to Melton..
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- McElroy was booked into jail for the charge of 2nd Degree Burglary.
- Melton was booked into jail for 2nd Degree Burglary and Possession of a Controlled Substance, Methamphetamine.
Deputy Craig Chamberlin
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
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