Rathdrum burglary, fraud suspect identified

RATHDRUM — A 21-year-old transient has been identified as the suspect in two vehicle thefts in Rathdrum and for fraudulently using a stolen credit card.

Patrick A. Plummer has a $25,000 warrant out for his arrest for five counts of burglary and one count of criminal possession of a financial transaction card.

Plummer allegedly entered two unlocked vehicles in the Radiant Lake subdivision the morning of Oct. 13, then later that day used a credit card — stolen from one of the vehicles — at a Rathdrum convenience store, a Holiday gas station in Hayden and at the Walmart in Hayden.

Media outlets ran a surveillance photo of two men at the Holiday station as the suspects.

"Within 24 hours, there were more than 20 tips of who the suspects were," Rathdrum Police Chief Kevin Fuhr said.

One of the men, an 18-year-old from Hayden, went to the Rathdrum Police station the morning the photo was published.

"After interviewing him, it was determined that he didn't know anything about the burglaries," Fuhr said. "He has not been charged with anything at this point. He had been called by Patrick, who wanted to be picked up in Rathdrum and taken to Hayden."

Fuhr said Plummer told a detective that he also planned to go to the police station for an interview, but never showed up.

Police then obtained a warrant for Plummer's arrest. His criminal history includes charges of theft, forgery, battery, probation violation and possession of stolen property. He was last incarcerated at the Kootenai County jail from July 31 to Aug. 2 this year.

Fuhr said a female who was with Plummer during the alleged Walmart incident will also be questioned.

Additional charges may be pending. An investigation continues.