CPPD mounts sting to get cigars

By on Friday, January 8th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

COLLEGE PLACE – Officers from the College Place Police Department struck gold while they were trying to find several items that had been taken from a local home. Public Information Officer Dylan Schmick  said investigators found a large cigar box containing several cigars posted for sale on Craigslist. That was one of the items that had been stolen.

Officers immediately began to communicate with the seller and made an agreement to meet earlier this week in Touchet. In addition to the CPPD officers, deputies from the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office staged nearby.

An officer in plain clothes met up with the seller. The two came to an agreement to exchange the items, and the officers arrived while that exchange was occurring. Police arrested Robert Rainey, 41, of Pasco.

He was booked into the Walla Walla County Jail on charges of second-degree possession of stolen property, and second-degree trafficking stolen property as well as additional charges.