Prison Handcuffs Jail Inmate

CLARKSTON - A 50-year-old Clarkston resident was arrested last week after allegedly stealing a large, white dump truck from A&B Foods in Lewiston. Raymond Wetmore-Tinney was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle and booked into the Asotin County Jail on $10,000 bond. The incident reportedly occurred on the afternoon of August 9.

According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Big Country News Connection, Wetmore-Tinney allegedly took the dump truck, owned by a tree service company, from the A&B Foods parking lot at 1234 8th Street in Lewiston.

The owner of the truck reported to law enforcement that he went inside the business to purchase merchandise, leaving the keys in the truck. When he returned outside, he saw the truck was gone. 

Near the time of the incident, a deputy with the Asotin County Sheriff's Office was reportedly traveling on Fleshman Way in Clarkston when he observed a large, white dump truck traveling in the lane ahead. The driver of the truck reportedly slowed down and proceeded to conduct an illegal turn by crossing the double yellow center line.

Simultaneously, as the officer observed the traffic violation, Lewiston Police Department Dispatch notified patrol officers of a dump truck theft that had occurred within the last 10 minutes.

The affidavit states the ACSO deputy then made contact with LPD Dispatch and was able to confirm the description of the stolen vehicle matched the one that he observed.

The deputy then made contact with the driver, identified as Wetmore-Tinney, at a residential property on the 1800 block of Hillyard Drive where he was taken into custody.

According to the affidavit, the deputy reported the odor of alcohol emanating from Wetmore-Tinney and his breath. The deputy also stated aside from apparent alcohol use, he appeared to display various indications of illicit narcotic use.

Wetmore-Tinney was booked into the Asotin County Jail for possession of a stolen vehicle. He was also served with two local misdemeanor Assault warrants at the Asotin County Jail.

Wetmore-Tinney had his initial appearance in court on August 10 and is set for arraignment on August 22 with Judge Brooke Burns.