Trio in custody for several car prowls

By Terry Murry on Saturday, February 27th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PILOT ROCK – The Pilot Rock Police Department has arrested two juveniles and Kristian Michael Nelson-Trout, 18, all of the Homestead Youth Lodge, for a series of car prowls that occurred earlier in the week.

“We had at least seven vehicle break-ins in the first part of the week,” Police Chief Bill Caldera stated in an email. “Taken were four pistols, an AR-15, knives, wallets, purses, credit cards, and a Kevlar vest among other items.”

Caldera credits various sources of information from citizen involvement led investigators to the youth lodge, where they interviewed the trio that are now facing serious charges. Those charges include several counts of first-degree theft, conspiracy, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and second-degree theft.

The two boys have been lodged at the juvenile detention center in Walla Walla. Nelson-Trout is being held at Umatilla County Jail on a preliminary bail of $70,000.

“At this point, we have one firearm that no one has identified,” Caldera wrote. “We fully expect that more charges will be forthcoming on all three.”