SPOKANE, Wash. — The Spokane County Sheriff’s Offices recovered a stolen horse and arrested two family members of the victim following an investigation that began late Saturday.
At approximately 11:40 p.m. on May 4, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a horse theft. According to SCSO, witnesses reported two individuals arriving in a silver truck pulling a red trailer and taking the horse from where it was boarded.
The horse’s owner provided deputies with documentation proving ownership and confirmed no one had permission to take the animal, which was valued at $25,000.
Investigators tracked the horse to a residence near S. Espanola Way and W. Thorpe Road. At the location, deputies observed a silver truck with a red trailer matching the description provided by witnesses.
According to SCSO, the property owner, 39-year-old Ty W. Nussbaumer, appeared intoxicated when deputies contacted him. He denied having the horse and refused to allow deputies onto his property.
Deputies later confirmed the stolen horse was on the property and obtained a search warrant.
The following morning, at approximately 7:30 a.m., deputies arrested Nussbaumer and a second suspect, 18-year-old Cheyannae M. Hughes.
Both suspects are family members of the victim.
The horse was found uninjured and returned to the people boarding it.
Nussbaumer and Hughes were booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of first-degree theft, a felony offense in Washington State that applies to theft of property valued at more than $5,000.
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