Worley, ID: On May 10th at around 4:30 a.m. the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a suspicious circumstance at a residence in the Cave Bay area near the town of Worley, Idaho. The caller reported that the light was on to their shop. Deputies arrived in the area and noticed signs of forced entry to the shop. They also located an abandoned vehicle in the area. Witnesses stated a male subject was seen fleeing from the vehicle into the woods. Due to the thick forest, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office Drone Team was requested to assist with locating the male. While they were responding to the location, another caller reported that their front door was broken in and their vehicle was just stolen.
Deputies observed the vehicle drive by and attempted a traffic stop, however the vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated. Deputies were able to deploy “Spike Strips” and a short time later the pursuit ended when the suspect crashed the vehicle.
The suspect was identified as Andrew James Hash a 34 year old male from Albany, Oregon. During the investigation it was determined that several residences and cabins as well as vehicles were broken into and numerous items had been stolen. Some of the stolen property included firearms, purses, alcohol and other items of value.
Hash was transported to Kootenai Health to be treated for injuries sustained in the crash. He was later released and booked into the Kootenai County Public Safety Building on a list of charges to include: Eluding, Grand Theft, DUI, Felony Malicious Injury to Property and Burglary.
Idaho State Police was requested to investigate the crash as it was related to the pursuit. The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office Detective Division and other support personnel were called to the scene due to the large number of residences and automobiles that were broken into. Andrew J. Hash has no prior criminal history with Kootenai County, but he is a registered sex offender out of Albany, Oregon.
The Sheriff’s Office is asking that if you were a victim of a residential or automobile burglary or if you have information related to this incident to contact the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office at 208-446-1300.
Sheriff Ben Wolfinger
By: Lt. Ryan Higgins
19-15812
