ELLENSBURG, WA – The Kittitas County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged 27-year-old Rebecca Tupuola of Wapato with first-degree kidnapping following an escape involving a stolen jail transport van earlier this week. Tupuola is being held in the Kittitas County Jail on $500,000 bail as she awaits trial.

The incident occurred around 9:50 a.m. on July 1 near Bowers Field, north of Ellensburg, during a routine transfer of inmates between county jails.  Tupuola allegedly took control of a jail transport van while it was briefly unattended. A second inmate, a male not believed to be connected to Tupuola, remained in the back of the van as she drove away.

Local law enforcement, including the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office, Ellensburg Police Department, Central Washington University Police, Kittitas Police Department, and the Washington State Patrol, responded to locate the stolen vehicle.

At 10:17 a.m., the male inmate used a cell phone left inside the van to call 911, reporting that Tupuola had dropped him off in a field. Police were able to locate the phone near Naneum Road and Game Farm Road, east of Ellensburg. The caller remained on the line, stating that Tupuola had entered a nearby house and returned with cash before hiding in a treeline.

Deputies located and spoke with the male inmate, who complied with their instructions. Nearby homeowners were advised to remain indoors and secure their properties while additional units arrived to establish a perimeter. Tupuola was soon located and surrendered to law enforcement without incident.

The Sheriff’s Office is conducting a criminal investigation into additional charges, including escape, theft of a motor vehicle, and burglary. Tupuola’s scheduled transport to King County has been postponed.