Olympia police chase 15-year-old on dirt bike throughout Thurston County
A 15-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday after he rode a dirt bike recklessly in and outside the city and refused to stop for police, a spokesman for the Olympia Police Department said.
About 10:30 a.m., police began receiving 911 calls about the teen riding up and down Pacific Avenue Southeast while doing wheelies, Lt. Paul Lower said.
A police officer in the area tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the boy allegedly started to ride faster, then drove up onto sidewalks and through private parking lots, Lower said.
Olympia police eventually lost sight of the boy, Lower said, but he was then spotted by Lacey police who noted similar acts: riding on sidewalks and through grassy areas.
Lacey police, too, could not get him to stop, Lower said.
The boy eventually rode into the county and onto the Chehalis Western Trail where police received more 911 calls from people walking on the trail, Lower said.
Based on some previous police reports about the boy, police finally were able to identify him and contact his parents. With the help of the parents, police were able to locate the dirt bike and the boy turned himself in, Lower said.
The pursuit ended about 12:30 p.m., he said.
Trooper Kameron Watts said a Washington State Patrol plane was aloft in the Olympia area Wednesday morning and afternoon for traffic safety emphasis and may have assisted police in the arrest.
The 15-year-old was arrested on suspicion of one count of felony eluding, although he might be facing additional charges from other jurisdictions, Lower said.
