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Sergeant Dylan Schmick
Public Information Officer
Cell: 509-520-2624

Press Releases

Hop “Thief” Caught in the Act

Early this morning (02/19/2022), at 4:40 A.M., officers responded to an interior motion alarm at Hop Thief Tap Room (795 SE Sydnee Lane, College Place). 

Upon arrival and initial inspection, officers observed a male step out of an exterior door of the building before quickly going back inside once he saw the officers. Officers on scene were able to make contact 
with the business owner, who stated that no one should be inside the building at that time. Officers from the Walla Walla Police Department and Deputies from the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office as 
well as K9 Murphy arrived on scene to assist in setting up a perimeter around the building. 

Officers starting hailing for the suspect to exit the building and continued to do so for nearly 30 minutes 
with no response. At that time, officers and K9 Murphy made entry into the building and located the subject upstairs, hiding under a table. The suspect, who was identified as 23-year-old, Walla Walla 
resident, Raul Melgar Moreno, was taken into custody without further issue. 

It was discovered that Melgar Moreno had made entrance into the business through an upper balcony door. When he was taken into custody, Melgar Moreno had more than $500.00 in his possession that he had taken from a cash box within the business. 

Melgar was booked into the Walla Walla County Jail on charges of Burglary in the 2nd Degree, Theft in the 3rd Degree and Obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer.

While being booking into jail, officers discovered that Melgar Moreno was released on his own recognizance by a judge on 02/09/2022. Melgar was previously booked into jail on 02/05/2022 on charges of Robbery in the 2nd Degree, Theft of Motor Vehicle, Assault in the 4th Degree (Domestic Violence), Possession of a Stolen Vehicle and Attempting to Elude a Police Vehicle.

Special thanks to our surrounding agencies for their assistance.