Burglary suspects arrested for attempting to steal from Columbia Center Mall
KENNEWICK, Wash. April 22 2021— An alleged mall burglary gone wrong landed two suspects in Kennewick Police custody on Tuesday afternoon. Local authorities say that the duo fled from an interaction with security at Columbia Center Mall around 1:00 a.m
According to a release by Detective Sergeant Joe Santoy, Columbia Center Mall Security made contact with the suspects as they exited the back door of Concept, a Women’s fashion boutique. The suspects, who have since been identified as James Guetter (32) and Baraka Asaba (25), did not cooperate with the security guard and fled in a red Honda.
Kennewick police officers determined that Concept was “forced” and a police dog was brought to the store for clearance. The security guard provided the KPD with a license plate number for the suspects’ car. Officers say they obtained additional evidence linked back to the suspects at the crime scene.
Officers continued their investigation through the morning, leading them to Columbia Park. Detectives located the car and quickly made a traffic stop. Guetter and Asaba were taken into custody. Kennewick police interviewed the suspects and compared their evidence from Concept with evidence in the Honda.
Guetter and Asaba were booked into the Benton County Jail on the suspicion of burglary to the 2nd Degree. Kennewick police uncovered that Asaba had two outstanding felony warrants out for his arrest.
The KPD asks that anyone with additional information for this case reaches out via their non-emergency number at 509-628-0333; cite Case No. 21-14669.
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