SPOKANE COUNTY, WA — A 48-year-old man with 17 prior felony convictions was arrested Tuesday after Spokane County deputies discovered he was towing a stolen RV trailer that had not yet been reported missing.

According to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, deputies initially responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle and possible crash around 1:05 p.m. on July 22 in the 12700 block of N. Division Street. A caller had reported that a driver in an SUV pulling a camper had struck some trees and nearly hit a fence, raising concerns the driver may be impaired.

Upon arrival, a deputy observed a white Jeep near a travel trailer but noted that neither matched the caller’s description. As he began investigating, he saw the Jeep drive past and identified the driver as Aaron J. Leigh, 48, but observed no signs of impairment and had no legal grounds to stop him.

Further investigation revealed Leigh’s extensive criminal record, including multiple convictions for possession of stolen property, theft, forgery, and controlled substances. The deputy also determined the trailer was registered to a business in Airway Heights, where it was supposed to be parked. After confirming with the business owner that the trailer had been taken without permission, it was processed for evidence and returned to the business.

Authorities developed probable cause to arrest Leigh for first-degree theft and learned that he was also a suspect in several unrelated theft investigations by the Airway Heights Police Department.

Later that evening, around 7:35 p.m., another deputy located Leigh’s Jeep using Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) alerts in the Airway Heights area. The vehicle was stopped on 18th Avenue, and Leigh was taken into custody without incident.

The Jeep, which was displaying license plates registered to a different vehicle, was seized as part of the ongoing investigation. Leigh was booked into the Spokane County Jail for theft, and additional charges may follow.

No further details have been released at this time.