A Vancouver man accused of stealing a pickup and leading police on a chase Sunday through north Clark County made a first appearance in Superior Court on Tuesday morning.
Aaron Michael Smith, 36, faces allegations of theft of a motor vehicle, second-degree theft, first-degree possession of stolen property, attempt to elude police and third-degree driving with a suspended or revoked license.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Smith allegedly stole a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado from a residence in the Sunnyside neighborhood sometime between midnight and 3:50 a.m. on Sunday. The vehicle’s owner, Kenneth Bachmeier, told police he estimated the stolen pickup to be worth $18,000. Bachmeier’s toolbox, GPS device and cellphone were also inside the truck. He estimated their value to be about $2,900.
A sheriff’s deputy responded about 4:15 a.m. to the residence to take the theft report. At about the same time, Battle Ground police spotted what they believed to be the stolen vehicle at a Shell gas station near the intersection of Main Street and state Highway 503.