Credit card fraud suspect arrested
POST FALLS - A citizen's tip led to the arrest of a fraud suspect who was wanted for nearly a month after shutting down his controversial Spokane bar last year.
Jaime Christen Pendleton, 42, former owner of the Daiquiri Factory bar in Spokane, was arrested by Post Falls Police Monday afternoon at a home in the 2500 block of North Stagecoach, on a $25,000 warrant for felony grand theft of a financial transaction card.
A resident, who was aware that Pendleton was wanted, told police Pendleton was with a dog near the intersection of Poleline and Stagecoach. When officers responded and saw Pendleton walk into a home in that area, they told a man in front of the residence that they would like to speak with Pendleton, the police report states.
"The male went into the residence and advised Jaime would be out shortly," the officer's report states. "A few moments later, the male I observed walk into the residence came out with a cellphone and his pictured Washington driver's license, confirming he was Jaime Pendleton."
Pendleton was arrested without incident.
The suspect, who posted bond and was released from the Kootenai County jail on Tuesday, will make his first appearance on Oct. 7 in front of Magistrate Anna Eckhart.
Pendleton is believed to have resided in the Veradale area outside Spokane before moving to Post Falls in recent days. He was charged with grand theft in June after allegedly stealing funds from a couple's joint bank account at ATMs at Chase Bank in Post Falls and the Airway Heights Walmart.
However, detectives could not locate him so a warrant was issued for his arrest last month.
Post Falls police Detective Neil Uhrig said the victims do not know Pendleton and it's unclear exactly how Pendleton was allegedly able to tap into their account.
Pendleton made national headlines last year with his downtown Spokane Daiquiri Factory. A Spokane Superior Court Judge upheld orders that evicted Pendleton and his business following controversy over one of the bar's drinks, named "Date Grape Koolaid."