ELLENSBURG, WA – A Wapato woman being transported between jails allegedly stole a transport van Tuesday morning near Ellensburg—with another inmate still inside.
According to the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office, 27-year-old Rebecca Tupuola was one of several inmates in transit to King County when the van made a routine stop near Bowers Field around 9:50 a.m. Tupuola, who was not in custody on Kittitas County charges prior to the incident, reportedly got behind the wheel of the unoccupied transport van and drove away while a male inmate remained in the back.
Law enforcement agencies across the region—including the Sheriff’s Office, Ellensburg Police Department, Central Washington University Police, Kittitas Police, and the Washington State Patrol—responded to locate the vehicle.
At 10:17 a.m., the male inmate used a cell phone left inside the van to call 911. He reported being dropped off in a field near Naneum Road and Game Farm Road east of Ellensburg. While on the line with dispatchers, he said Tupuola entered a nearby residence and emerged with cash before hiding in a nearby treeline.
Deputies arrived on scene, secured the area, and advised nearby residents to stay inside and lock their doors. After a brief search, Tupuola surrendered without further incident and was taken into custody.
She now faces potential charges including escape, theft of a motor vehicle, and burglary. Her transport to King County has been delayed, and she has been booked into the Kittitas County Jail. The Sheriff’s Office is leading the ongoing investigation.
