Pullman PD locates fentanyl after burglary

Chester Pitner, 52, and Teressa Halverson, 37, were arrested and booked into the Whitman County Jail on Friday, Mar. 1, after they were apprehended following eyewitness testimony from a neighbor, Steven Warn. Warn observed Pitner and an unidentified female loading stolen items into a U-Haul cargo van.

Pinter and Halverson both face charges of Residential Burglary, Theft 2nd Degree, and Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver. Halverson and Pinter were booked in Whitman County Jail through Whitman County Superior Court. Halverson's bail is set at a $5,000.00 bond or $500.00 cash bail. Meanwhile, Pinter's bail was set at a $25,000.00 bond or $2,500.00 cash bail.

Reports say Christina Rodriguez, 39, of Pullman, returned home after a four-week absence to find her residence on North West Dillon Street had been ransacked with several valuable items missing. Rodriguez's immediate report to WHITCOM identified "Chet" [Pinter] and "Tess" [Halverson] as possible suspects.

Pullman Police Department Deputy Teayana Dillon first responded to the incident and spoke with Rodriguez, who identified the stolen items, which included a new 75-inch Samsung flat-screen TV, a new Ninja food processor, a new Ninja coffee machine, a gaming computer tower with a 32-inch Alien curved black computer monitor, silver and gold heart bracelet, silver and blue stone earrings, and a closet full of men's clothing and shoes.

Reports say that Rodriguez stated she was with Chester Pitner and "Tess" the day before she left and that they would have been the only people to know she was gone. 

"I asked Rodriguez why Pitner and Tess would burglarize her place, and she advised that it was because they were drug users," said Dillon.

Rodriguez reportedly informed Deputy Dillon that the neighbors in apartment #3 had told her

that they saw the suspects moving items out of her apartment.

"I went and spoke with Steven Warn in apartment #3. Steven stated that he and his wife were home and had their curtains open like they normally did. Steven stated that he saw a Uhaul cargo van pull up. Steven stated that there was a male and female that were moving items from Rodriguez's apartment to the Uhaul van. Steven stated that he specifically remembered seeing them move a big TV that was still in its box and a box of clothes," said Dillon. 

Reports say Steven and his wife, Dorothy Warn, went out to speak with the suspects. Steven reportedly stated that the male told them they were helping Rodriguez move. Steven advised that the male was smaller darker skin and that the female was possibly Hispanic

or Native American. 

After speaking with employee Michael Newman, Deputy Dillon confirmed the burglary occurred on Feb. 28 at U-Haul. 

"I informed Newman that I was investigating a burglary where a Uhaul was used and asked if he could check to see if Pitner had rented a cargo van," said Dillon. 

Newman reportedly told Dillon that Pitner had rented a cargo van on Feb. 28 at 1:38 p.m. and returned it on Mar. 1 at approximately 10 a.m. In addition, the Uhaul had 297 more miles on it when it was dropped off than when it was picked up.

Further investigation confirmed Pitner's rental of a U-Haul on the day of the burglary, supported by surveillance footage showing his return after the crime. 

Following this, Deputy Dillon and Whitman County Sheriff's Office, Sergeant Michael Jordan were granted a search warrant for Pinter's residence. 

Upon entry, reports say Deputy Dillon apprehended Halverson first after leaving the master bedroom. Pinter followed and was arrested by Seargent Jordan.

Halverson reportedly told Deputy Dillon and Seargent Jordan that they rented the Uhaul to go to Spokane for "pills." Halverson also stated that the residential burglary was her idea because Rodriguez owed her approximately $2,000. 

"Halverson stated that she was the only one involved, but I told her that I knew that was not true because Pitner was identified by witnesses, and he rented the Uhaul. Halverson was listed as a secondary person on the Uhaul rental," said Dillon.

Reports say Pinter and Halverson claimed they had taken the items to Grand Coulee and stored them. 

"Halverson was in a towel and asked to put clothes on. I took Halverson to the little bathroom so she could put clothes on. Inside the bathroom, I saw a bag of little blue pills that Halverson advised were Fentanyl pills. There were pipes and paraphernalia throughout the home," said Dillon.

Judge John Hart granted Deputy Dillon a search warrant. In the search, officers located approximately 100 Fentanyl pills in several different bags, what appeared to be crystal methamphetamine in several separate baggies or containers, a block of what appeared to be compact powdered Fentanyl and a bag of a powder substance. 

"Sergeant Jordan later called to inform me that Halverson and Pitner told him that there was a chunk of powdered Fentanyl in the little bathroom. I also located a scale in Halverson's purse in the master bedroom," Dillon said.