Deputies Don’t “Horse” Around with Theft Suspects
Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the report of a stolen horse. Through their investigation, they located the horse, obtained a search warrant for the property, and arrested the suspects for Theft 1st Degree.
On May 4, 2025, at approximately 11:40 pm, Spokane County Deputies responded to the report of a horse being stolen from the property where it was boarded.
Witnesses told Deputies that two individuals arrived in a silver truck pulling a red trailer and stole the horse.
Deputies contacted the horse’s owner and were provided documentation proving ownership and pictures of the horse. The owner/victim advised that no one had permission to take the horse, which was valued at $25,000.
Through witness accounts backed up by evidence, the horse was believed to be at a residence near S. Espanola Way and W. Thorpe Road. Deputies arrived at the residence and observed a silver truck with a red trailer attached, but did not observe the stolen horse.
They contacted the property owner and suspect, 39-year-old Ty W. Nussbaumer, who met them at his locked driveway gate. Nussbaumer appeared intoxicated and denied having the horse on his property or any involvement in stealing the horse. He rejected the Deputies’ request to enter his property. Deputies also had information that a second suspect, 18-year-old Cheyannae M. Hughes, was at the location. (both Nussbaumer and Hughes are family members of the victim)
Deputies continued investigating and confirmed that the stolen horse was indeed on the property. With probable cause to arrest Nussbaumer and Hughes for Theft 1st Degree, they obtained a valid search warrant for the property.
That morning, at approximately 7:30 am, Deputies entered the property, contacted Nussbaumer, and informed him he was under arrest. Deputies also contacted Hughes and took her into custody without incident.
They informed the victim that they had located the uninjured horse and released it to the people boarding it.
Nussbaumer and Hughes were transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Theft 1st Degree, a felony.
This Spokane County Sheriff Office news article "Deputies Don’t “Horse” Around with Theft Suspects" was originally found on https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=7