Wanted man found hiding in trunk

A 27-year-old Rathdrum man wanted in Kootenai County on multiple drug charges was found hiding in a vehicle trunk in Spokane Valley on Friday night.

Justin R. Brown was arrested by Spokane Valley Sheriff's deputies after they obtained information that he was believed to be in the area of Third Avenue and Freya in Spokane.

After Brown was seen getting into a vehicle as a passenger, deputies - joined by units from the Spokane Police Department - conducted a traffic stop near Sprague and Havana.

During the traffic stop, the suspect was not in the passenger seat, even though he was observed getting into the vehicle prior to the stop.

"It was determined Brown must have crawled into the trunk via the backseat sometime after he entered the vehicle or just prior to the traffic stop," said Deputy Mark Gregory, Spokane County Sheriff's Office spokesman.

The trunk release switch was activated from inside the vehicle, but the trunk did not open, Gregory said.

Believing Brown was holding the trunk closed, police gave him several orders to exit the vehicle and warnings a SPD K-9 would be used.

Brown eventually allowed the trunk to open and he was arrested. He was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail on a felony fugitive from justice charge. Brown has since been transported back to Kootenai County, Gregory said.

He's being held for obstructing, eluding a police officer, possession of a stolen vehicle and probation violations. His combined bonds are $160,000.

He was earlier wanted on a $60,000 warrant for two probation violations for possession of a controlled substance.

Brown has been booked in the local jail 19 times as an adult, including for drugs, burglary and eluding.

Gregory said the report doesn't indicate how deputies found out about Brown's whereabouts.

The North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force worked with Spokane Valley on the case.