Theft ring suspect arrested

POST FALLS - One of the suspects involved in what police believe is a major theft ring throughout the Northwest was arrested in Post Falls on Wednesday.

Jerry Lee Drake Jr., 50, Yakima, Wash., was arrested at the Post Falls Walmart on Mullan Avenue with a loaded .357 Magnum and methamphetamine.

He is being held at the Kootenai County jail on a $100,000 bond on charges of felony burglary and possession of a concealed weapon and controlled substance.

"There's a group out of Yakima that has been going to Western Walmarts in an RV and shoplifting," Post Falls Police Capt. Greg McLean said.

Their method of theft has been taking a large box from inside the store, emptying the item, then filling it with higher-priced merchandise such as electronics and only paying the price on the box.

"In this case (at the Walmart on Mullan), he used a car seat box," McLean said.

Walmart had an alert out for Drake, who is also one of two suspects in a theft at the store near Cabela's on Feb. 9. Both were seen on video surveillance in that alleged incident, but weren't caught.

McLean said that "hundreds" of dollars worth of merchandise were taken in the two thefts, but police believe the two are part of a larger ring involved in Walmart thefts throughout the Northwest.

"We're hearing that they've potentially hit Walmarts in Spokane as well as Hayden," McLean said, adding that multiple agencies are working the case.

Drake was arrested inside the Mullan Avenue store by Post Falls officers after they were notified by Walmart security. He was alone in the alleged incident.

Police said he had taken a taxi from the RV parked at the Suntree RV Park in Post Falls to Walmart.

Drake's wife was contacted by police at the RV, but is not suspected of being involved in a crime. Drake's alleged accomplice in last week's theft is on the loose.

"As far as we know, he was picked up by someone," McLean said. "It's hard to say if he's in the area or not."