Deputies recover stolen ATV, arrest Malaga suspect

MALAGA — According to a release from Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison, Wenatchee Police took a report on Saturday, May 3 of a stolen all-terrain vehicle (ATV) from inside Wenatchee city limits.

Later, a Chelan County Sheriff’s Deputy was patrolling in the area of the Malaga Market on the Malaga-Alcoa Highway when he saw an ATV pull out and begin driving recklessly. He attempted to stop the vehicle when he saw that it had no license plate and the driver was continuing to operate it in an unsafe manner, but the driver refused to stop, eventually eluding him by driving into an orchard, which the deputy also saw.

In the orchard off Hurds River Ranch Road, the deputy located the ATV, but the driver was not present. It turned out to be the vehicle from the stolen ATV report from Wenatchee, and it was returned to its owner.

However, a crime had been committed and the deputy stayed on the case. During the course of his investigation, he found probable cause to arrest Mitchell Plantillas of Malaga.

Five days after the initial theft report, deputies made contact with Plantillas at his residence in the 300 block of Hurds River Ranch Road. There, they took him into custody on charges of theft of the ATV and eluding law enforcement.

According to Sheriff Morrison’s report, a search warrant was obtained for the property and other stolen items were located and recovered, including another ATV that had recently been stolen.

The 27-year-old Plantillas was booked into the Chelan County Regional Justice Center. Charges include two counts of possession of a stolen vehicle, felony eluding, second degree possession of stolen property, second degree trespassing, second degree criminal trespassing and second degree burglary. 

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media