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Officers Arrest Man for First Hill Auto Theft

Officers arrested a man Monday afternoon after he was seen stealing a car from a First Hill Parking lot.

A 50-year-old man called 911 after he saw his truck being stolen from the lot near 7th Avenue and Cherry Street around 1:40 p.m. Monday.

Detective Matt Lilje happened to be walking to lunch when he witnessed the truck going the wrong way down Cherry Street at a high rate of speed. The detective, believing the truck had been stolen, took note of the driver and where it was headed.

Officers coming into the area were approached by the victim who said he could now see the suspect returning to a white Ford sedan parked nearby. Officers arrested the 31-year-old man who admitted to taking the truck.  Detective Lilje confirmed that officers had arrested the same person he had seen driving the truck. Officers searched the man and found credit cards, an ID card belonging to a man who had been the victim of a car prowl earlier in the day, and a piece of heroin.

Officers booked the suspect into King County Jail for vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, and drug charges.

Additional officers located the truck parked in the 500 block of Yesler Way and were able to return it to the victim.