SPOKANE COUNTY, WA – Spokane County Sheriff’s deputies arrested two suspects this week in connection with a hotel room burglary in North Spokane that led to stolen property, fraudulent credit card use, and vehicle prowling.

On September 23, deputies responded to a hotel in the 7900 block of North Division Street after a victim reported his wallet and rental car keys had been stolen. The victim, who had lost his room keycard earlier in the evening, said a woman posing as housekeeping entered his room while he was inside the bathroom. Later, he discovered his belongings missing and noticed fraudulent charges on his credit card.

Through investigation, deputies identified 46-year-old Barry A. Buchmann and 43-year-old Natasha A. Schwencer as suspects. Surveillance footage and credit card records tied them to the incident. Deputies also learned Schwencer had an active Washington Department of Corrections escape warrant, while Buchmann had a separate warrant from Lincoln County for criminal trespass.

The following day, deputies located the suspects at a Spokane convenience store and later at Buchmann’s workplace. Both were detained and admitted to using the victim’s lost keycard to access the hotel room, taking his wallet and keys, and then using the stolen fob to enter his rental vehicle in the parking lot. Some of the victim’s property was later recovered during a search of their residence.

Buchmann was booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges including residential burglary, theft, identity theft, vehicle prowling, and outstanding warrants. His bond was set at $2,000. Schwencer was booked on similar charges in addition to her DOC warrant. Her bond was set at $2,000 with a hold on the state warrant.

Deputies credited persistence in following limited leads for the arrests and recovery of stolen property.