Bremerton police arrest ‘prolific Honda thief’

BREMERTON, Wash. — Bremerton police said they arrested a man on Tuesday who they described as a “prolific Honda thief."

In December 2019, Bremerton detectives and the police crime analyst noticed a rise in the number of stolen Honda vehicles in the city and Kitsap County. Detectives identified several persons of interest.

On Dec. 10, detectives identified Nathanial Spaulding as the prime suspect in the crimes after they saw him at an east Bremerton Honda “chop shop," according to police. Just as detectives approached the property, they saw Spaulding pass by in a stolen Honda. Detectives said he fled recklessly and was not found.

A search of the shop yielded a stolen Honda vehicle, parts and license plates.

Police said the case went cold and information was received that Spaulding had left the area. Though the number of stolen Hondas in Bremerton decreased, there appeared to be an increase of stolen Hondas from north Pierce County to south Kitsap County.

On Monday, a Kitsap County detective spotted a multi-colored Honda car on Auto Center Way. When the detective checked the license plate, it came back as being registered to a truck.

When the Kitsap County detective tried to stop the Honda, the driver fled and the car was not found. A Bremerton detective checked an address in the general area of where the Honda was last seen, and the two detectives found Spaulding just as he was about to paint the stolen Honda, investigators said.

A warrant was served on the property to recover the stolen Honda and search for evidence. Police said they found evidence related to two other stolen Hondas.

Spaulding was arrested and booked into the Kitsap County Jail for investigation of theft of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, possession of stolen property, possession of heroin and possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine.

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