Man Arrested With Stolen Lexus in Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon, WA– Just after 4:30 Am on August 29th, 2015, Officers from the Mount Vernon Police Department responded to a welfare check in the 1900 block of South 3rd street in Mount Vernon.

A citizen was concerned that a man, who they believed was intoxicated was passed out  in a silver vehicle with the vehicle running and the lights on.

The citizen reported that they had tried to wake the man and he would not wake up. The citizen provided dispatchers with an Oregon  license plate number associated with the vehicle.  Dispatchers ran the vehicle license plate number and notified the Mount Vernon Officers that the vehicle was returning stolen out of Portland, Oregon.

Mount Vernon Officers arrived and found the vehicle, a 2006 Lexus RX4 SUV. Officers then  observed a male who appeared to be sleeping in the drivers seat with the vehicle running and the lights on.  The driver awoke suddenly and attempted to flee but officers were able to get him to get out of the vehicle and he was taken into custody.

Officers later identified the driver as Steven L.  Beegle, with an address returning to Yakima, Washington.

Portland Officers were contacted and confirmed the vehicle was stolen and no one had permission to take it.

Officers noted that the subject has a felony warrant for Theft 1 out of Kennewick, Washington and he has been arrested in at least 3 other states with multiple felonies. This includes thefts of firearms, theft of vehicles and larceny in Oregon,  Oklahoma and Nebraska.

Mr. Beegle is currently being held in the Skagit County Jail on an Investigative hold. He was originally being  held on a $10,000 bond for Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.  On August 31st, additional charges of 2 counts of unlawful Possession of a Firearm and VUSCA were added.  He has an additional $50,000 Bond as a result.