Kittitas Co. deputies seek mail theft suspect who used fake ID to buy ATV

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(Kittitas County Sheriff's Office)

Kittitas County Sheriff’s detectives are looking for a man suspected of stealing an ATV by using fraudulent loans.

Surveillance images at Enumclaw Powersports show a man in a button-up shirt, a beige vest, a black cowboy hat, glasses, blue jeans and brown boots. 

Thanks to tips to deputies, the suspect has been identified as 58-year-old Joseph Simpson

The sheriff’s office says that Simpson stole the identity of an Upper Kittitas County resident, likely by stealing their mail, then took out fraudulent loans and opened accounts totaling nearly $45,000.

The suspect also used a fake driver’s license, then used it and the loans to "buy" an ATV with a trailer.

Simpson reportedly made the fraudulent sale on Feb. 4.

According to the sheriff’s office, at the time, the suspect was driving a white Chevy Tahoe "not more than 10 years old." Its left rear backup light is out, and the right turn signal reportedly "flashes erratically," or may have even burned out by now.

Deputies say Simpson is already the subject of multiple arrest warrants and is wanted in relation to identity thefts, credit frauds, thefts of furniture and heavy equipment and theft of recreational vehicles in various counties. 

"Businesses should be aware of his appearance and scamming methods, and everyone should be careful to protect your personal identifying information, as always," deputies said. 

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Detectives urge anyone with information on the suspect to contact Kittitas County 911/KITTCOM at (509) 925-8534 and provide details to Detective Andrea Blume, case number S23-01709.