Wanted man arrested after standoff in Walla Walla County

BURBANK, Wash. -- A wanted man in Walla Walla County was arrested and booked on suspicion of several charges, Friday, April 26.

Stephan Cleveland, 26, was arrested and booked for kidnapping, taking a motor vehicle without permission, possession of a stolen vehicle, hit and run, eluding, malicious mischief and escape from community custody after leading police on a car chase.

The call for help came in from a woman inside a Circle K bathroom off Dodd Road in Burbank, around 10 p.m on Monday, April 22.

Its reported the woman was whispering to dispatch and said there was a domestic issue with Cleveland, her boyfriend.

Police said Cleveland had an active warrant for escaping community custody. He was originally convicted of assault of a child.

Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the call and saw a Honda CRV leaving the parking lot. Deputies attempted to pull Cleveland over with the assistance of Washington State Patrol troopers.

When deputies tried to pull Cleveland over, the girlfriend exited the vehicle and Cleveland was hiding in the back. Deputies and troopers tried to get Cleveland out of the vehicle but he climbed into the drivers seat and took off with a three-year-old still in the car.

Washington State Patrol began chasing Cleveland with probable cause for kidnapping. Cleveland made it to Oregon and an Oregon State trooper used a spike strip to get the car to stop near milepost 187 on highway 730.

After the car was spiked, Cleveland abandoned the car and ran from the scene. Deputies said the three-year-old was found safe. The condition of the Honda CRV is unknown.

According to officials, Cleveland ran to a large residential area and was unable to be located even with police K-9s.

On April 26, a Walla Walla Police Department Detective said he had reason to believe Cleveland was staying somewhere on Stateline Road in Walla Walla County and began surveillance.

Police said just before 6 p.m. the detective saw Cleveland walk from a trailer on the property.

According to police, around 6:30 p.m. the Walla Walla Regional SWAT team was activated and a search warrant was granted. While attempting to make contact, Cleveland did not cooperate and ran from the scene in a vehicle.

Deputies reported that Cleveland had broken through the surrounding fence line and was speeding into Oregon. Officials said law enforcement had lost sight for a short while but Cleveland crashed the car on Peppers Bridge Road after returning to Washington.

According to deputies, Cleveland ran to a nearby property and containment was set because all responding officers were nearby.

Law enforcement tried to negotiate with Cleveland to surrender but after hours with no response, police searched the residence and found Cleveland had barricaded himself in a trailer on the back of the property where he was then arrested.

Deputies said there was a different wanted man also on the property; Clarence Gunter, 42. It is unknown if he was arrested.

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