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Pullman Police search nets 93 pounds of panties

By Amy Cannata
Staff writer
March 26, 2007

Pullman Police arrested a 24-year-old man Saturday for stealing as many as 1,500 panties and bras from apartment laundry rooms since last summer.

Garth M. Flaherty, 24, was seen Saturday taking women's underwear from two apartment complex laundry rooms on the 800 and 900 blocks of Northeast Providence Court.

One person recorded Flaherty's license plate number and he was later identified from a photo montage, giving police what they needed to get a search warrant, said Pullman Police Commander Chris Tennant.

A subsequent search of Flaherty's vehicle and home revealed a stash of women's panties and bras totaling about 93 pounds. Police haven't counted them all, but they believe there are 500-1,500 pairs worth $2,200.

Tennant said they were spread about Flaherty's bedroom, but filled five garbage bags when collected.

Flaherty was arrested and charged with 12 felony counts of second degree burglary and on charge of first degree theft.

"He said he had a problem," said Tennant.

Police report 12 previous incidents of panty thefts at five separate apartment complexes in northeast Pullman.

The rash of thefts prompted police to ask residents to watch their laundry and be on the lookout for suspicious people.

Tennant said that prosecuting the case will be made easier by past victims' statements.

"We were kind of concerned about how to match up bras and panties with victims," he said. "Based on the unique descriptions from a couple of women, we can tie him to those thefts."

How the crime will be prosecuted is unclear. Although the thefts have sexual overtones, Tennant said he's not aware of whether the case can be tried as a sex crime.

Police arrested a man last month for stealing panties from women on the BYU-Idaho campus in Rexburg, Idaho.

As for the bras and panties retrieved in Pullman, they will be held as evidence until after the case is complete.

After that, it's unclear what Police will do with them, Tennant said.

"Would you really want them back?" he asked. "I would say not."

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