MOSES LAKE — A Soap Lake couple reportedly brought a baby in a stroller with them into a Moses Lake store as they stole numerous items from the business and tried to leave without paying.

Earlier this week Rite Aid employees advised the Moses Lake Police Department of a theft in progress at their South Pioneer Way location. Police were informed a male, identified as Joseph Montes, 29, of Soap Lake, and a 26-year-old woman who lives with him, entered the store with a baby in a stroller, according to MLPD Capt. Mike Williams.

Montes and the woman allegedly loaded several items into a cart and attempted to leave the business without paying. The two suspects were reportedly contacted at the front door of the business by employees, at which time Montes grabbed some of the items out of the cart and fled the area on foot without the female and child. The woman attempted to follow Montes while pushing the stroller.

MLPD officers arrived at the store, spotted Montes and started to pursue him. The suspect ran in circles around a building and was eventually taken into custody.

“He told officers he wasn’t familiar with the area and didn’t know where to run,” Williams said. “This lack of knowledge was further evidenced by the decision to run from a store located across the street from the police department.”

As police were with Montes, the woman he was with got back into her car and left the area before police were able to make contact with her. Officers identified the woman from video surveillance inside the store and discovered she has an outstanding warrant for theft.

Soap Lake police officers responded to the woman’s last known address in Soap Lake, but discovered she no longer resides at the location. Williams said a report will be filed with Child Protective Services. Montes was booked into the Grant County Jail on an outstanding felony warrant for two counts of burglary and possession of methamphetamine.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.