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Owner, alleged thief both arrested in vehicle theft incident

JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 month, 2 weeks AGO
by JOEL MARTIN
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | August 9, 2026 3:39 PM

MOSES LAKE — An alleged car thief and the vehicle’s owner were both arrested Thursday morning, according to a statement from the Moses Lake Police Department.

Sara Danielle Gallagher, 40, of Moses Lake and Daniel Daryl Littlejohn, 28, of Ephrata, were booked into Grant County Jail on separate charges, according to the Grant County Jail roster.

At a little before 8 a.m., MLPD officers were called to a business in the 4300 block of South Prichard Road, according to the statement. The vehicle’s owner, Littlejohn, told officers he had given a ride to Gallagher, who stole the vehicle while he was inside the business.

While en route to the call, an MLPD officer spotted the vehicle in the 2700 block of West Broadway Avenue, according to the statement. The officer stopped the vehicle and arrested Gallagher. As she was being arrested, officers discovered a HiPoint 9mm pistol in the driver’s door pocket of the vehicle. The weapon was found to be registered in Littlejohn’s name.

Because Littlejohn cannot legally possess firearms, he was arrested and booked into jail for second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, according to the jail roster. He was released Monday morning.

Gallagher was booked for theft of a motor vehicle, theft of a firearm, third-degree driving with license suspended and an outstanding Grant County warrant, according to the jail roster. She was still in jail Sunday morning with a bail of $10,273.10.


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