Nisqually officer says community’s ‘vigilance was outstanding’ in suspect’s capture

The suspect in Sunday night’s police chase from the Nisqually reservation to Yelm appeared in Thurston County Superior Court on Friday, after tipsters helped police locate him.

Austen Carter, 24, was arrested by tribal police and booked Thursday into the Nisqually Jail on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle and eluding a police vehicle. He is being held on $2,500 bail, according to a court official.

Tribal officer Anthony Brunscheen credited the arrest to numerous tips that were called in after Carter’s photo and a story about the chase were posted Monday on The Olympian’s website. Within minutes, his phone was ringing, and everybody was giving him the same name, Brunscheen said.

Tumwater Police contacted tribal police and said they were familiar with the suspect as well.

“We couldn’t have done it without the community,” Brunscheen said. “I’ve always been a firm believer that people solve crimes — communities solve crimes. ... The vigilance was outstanding.”

At about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Brunscheen reported that he had located a “suspicious vehicle” outside the Red Wind Casino. It had red duct tape over the rear license plate, Brunscheen said.

He waited for another officer to arrive to run the vehicle’s identification number, which is standard procedure for an officer’s protection.

“I don’t know who’s in the car,” he said. “I don’t know if someone is laying down in the the backseat.”

While Brunscheen waited, a man approached the Honda, removed the tape and drove away. The driver left the parking lot and went through the intersection at a high speed.

Police followed and found the Honda at the end of 89th Avenue Southeast, near the roundabout at Yelm Highway Southeast and Mud Run Road Southeast.

The vehicle, which was reported stolen about 12 hours earlier from the Lucky Eagle Casino’s hotel on the Chehalis reservation, was returned to its owner, Brunscheen said.

This story was originally published December 8, 2017 at 4:11 PM with the headline "Nisqually officer says community’s ‘vigilance was outstanding’ in suspect’s capture."