SPOKANE -- Three people are under arrest after a raid on two homes in Spokane Thursday night. One was near the intersection of Fifth and Pittsburgh on Spokane's Lower South Hill. The second was near Napa and East Marshall Avenue.
Investigators say it started August 18 when Spokane Police officers responded to a fight in the alley behind 1820 East 5th Avenue. They found a victim, bleeding from the head and in extreme pain. The victim told officers he had been "jumped" by numerous people who stole the jewelry from around his neck. His jeans were also stripped off his body and his vehicle was stolen.
Upon further investigation, officers discovered the victim was friends with one of the suspects. The two agreed to make a rap music video together. The victim decided to wear some of his jewelry in the video that was rather expensive. The suspects were aware of the value of the victim's jewelry.
After a large group met at a Spokane Valley night club, the party returned home at 1800 East 5th Avenue. While the victim was sitting in his vehicle, a black man jumped into the passenger side seat and a female entered the driver's side rear door, directly behind the victim. Investigators say the victim grew concerned and tried to start the car and leave. The black man got out, walked around to the driver's door, opened it and tried to grab the victim by the shirt. That suspect then struck the victim several times in the head with a hand gun and pulled the victim out of the car.
Investigators say as the victim lie on the ground, the suspect and Monica Sanders began attacking him. He tried to get away by hiding underneath a nearby car. Investigators say he was shot with a taser or stun gun by Sanders and Tasha Tensley. Another black man entered the fight and struck the victim while he was underneath the car. Meanwhile, his wallet and jewelry was forcibly removed from his neck, wrist and fingers. His jeans were pulled off, which had $350 cash in the pocket. The victim says his jewelry was valued at roughly $20,000.
Investigators tracked some of the stolen jewelry from a pawn shop back to the house on 1800 East 5th Avenue and another house on Napa. At 8:00 p.m. Thursday, members of the Spokane Police Department and the Spokane County Sheriff's Office SWAT team assisted the Spokane Violent Crimes Gang Enforcement Team to execute two search warrants at both houses.
During the raid, police arrested Monica R. Sanders, 32, Tasha M. Tensley, 26, and Roderick J. Thomas, 21. Members of the Spokane Violent Crimes Gang Enforcement Team are still looking for fiver other suspects. Police say they are suspected of having ties to gangs.
