Burglar Caught in the Act and Arrested
Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a reported audible alarm at a Spokane Valley business and found the suspect still inside the store. He exited through the window he originally broke to enter the store, wearing the shoes he planned to steal. He was taken into custody and booked into jail on felony and misdemeanor charges.
On May 22, 2025, at approximately 12:30 am, Spokane Valley Deputies responded to an audible commercial alarm at Ross, 15529 E. Broadway Avenue, in Spokane Valley.
The first Deputy arrived within minutes and observed a male inside the store, using the phone near the checkout counter.
Seeing the Deputy, the male, later identified as 44-year-old Joel S. Walker, walked over to a large broken window at the front of the store and climbed out. He followed commands, and when additional Deputies arrived, he was safely detained without incident.
Walker was advised of his rights and agreed to answer questions. He said he broke the store window because he needed shoes and claimed he couldn’t wait until the store opened because he heard a “hazmat alarm in the city.”
The Deputy noted Walker was wearing a new pair of women’s shoes with the store alarm device still attached. Apparently, Walker left his old shoes inside the store after selecting the new shoes he had on when Deputies took him into custody.
Store employees said the cost to repair the broken window was approximately $1,000 and that the shoes Walker attempted to steal cost $19.99. They also wanted Walker trespassed from the store.
Deputies collected Walker’s old shoes for him and returned the stolen shoes to the store.
Walker was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Burglary 2nd Degree and Malicious Mischief 2nd Degree, both felonies and Theft 3rd Degree, a misdemeanor.
Later, after appearing in Spokane County Superior Court, he was ordered to be released on his own recognizance.
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This Spokane County Sheriff Office news article "Burglar Caught in the Act and Arrested" was originally found on https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=7