Redmond woman, Estacada man arrested in $140K jewelry retail thefts that hit Walmarts across the Northwest

COLLEGE PLACE, Wash. (KTVZ) -- A Redmond woman and an Estacada man were arrested this week in College Place, Washington, accused in a string of jewelry thefts hitting Walmarts across the Pacific Northwest that's totaled at least $140,000 in losses.

Here's the news release from College Place Police:

On Feb. 14, College Place Police officers were dispatched to a theft report at Walmart that had occurred earlier in the day. The theft suspect was seen on store security cameras breaking into a jewelry case and stealing nearly $400 worth of jewelry before exiting the store.

Officers were provided security photos of the suspect and the vehicle, a bluish-gray Chevy pickup. Walmart informed the officers that the events and suspect were very similar to other jewelry thefts occurring at Walmarts across the Pacific Northwest totaling over $100,000 in thefts.

Officers quickly went to work, using all the resources available to them, trying to track the suspect and the associated vehicle. Over the last several weeks, officers have routinely conducted different levels of follow-up in an attempt to further build the case and track the suspect.

On Tuesday, Feb. 25 around 3:30 p.m., while on a regular patrol, a College Place Police Officer routinely driving through the Walmart parking lot noticed a vehicle that matched the vehicle associated with the Feb. 14 theft.

Officers found a woman in the passenger seat, identified as Mistie Dawn Cooper, 45. While speaking with Cooper, officers quickly noticed drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.

Officers on the scene quickly contacted Walmart Asset Protection staff to see if the associated male was currently inside the store. The male suspect was located on a security camera attempting to gain access to a jewelry case inside the store.

Other officers on the scene were able to apprehend the suspect without incident as he exited the building. He was identified as Nathaniel Young, 44, of Estacada, Oregon.

Based on the findings of narcotics paraphernalia, officers seized Young’s pickup and executed a search warrant following the approval of a local judge. They recovered 21 grams of powdered fentanyl, one gram of cocaine, a digital scale and small baggies, all items synonymous with drug distribution.

Also found in the vehicle were several articles of jewelry, some with Walmart tags still attached, and a variety of burglary tools, many specifically designed for retail cases.

After further follow-up, the Walmart Global Investigations team advised that Young has allegedly been involved in numerous Walmart jewelry thefts across Washington and Oregon totaling around $140,000.

(Redmond Police Department Public Information Officer Lt. April Huey told KTVZ News that College Place investigators had contacted them, but they had found no cases connected to the others around the region.)

Young was booked into the Walla Walla County Jail on charges of Organized Retail Theft, Possession of Burglary Tools, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver, and Theft in the 3rd Degree. Cooper was also booked on charges of Organized Retail Theft, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

This is an ongoing and developing case, as more information continues to come forward from other jurisdictions.

College Place Police Chief (Troy) Tomaras credits the dedicated investigation and follow-up conducted by the involved officers, as well as a strong working relationship with Walmart, that led to the apprehension of suspects who have been victimizing the entire Pacific Northwest.