Man hits Sheriff’s vehicle, semi trying to elude arrest in Lacey

A pickup truck lead police on a chase from east Lacey to Steilacoom early Friday, allegedly hitting a Sheriff’s vehicle and a semi truck as it tried to evade officers, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.

At about 1 a.m. Friday, a Thurston County Sheriff’s deputy noticed a black Ford pickup at the Marvin Road and Pacific Avenue roundabout in east Lacey. The truck had expired license plate tabs and when the deputy signaled the vehicle to pull over, the driver stepped on the gas, Thurston County Sheriff’s spokesman Roland Weiss said.

More deputies were called in to follow and stop the truck. They pursued the vehicle at speeds of 60 to 80 mph until officers managed to corral the vehicle on Rehklau Road in Lake St. Clair, Weiss said.

Sheriff’s deputies thought they had the truck boxed in, Weiss said, but the truck spun around, drove towards the deputies vehicles and hit a Sheriff’s truck, allowing it to escape and head back towards Yelm Highway.

The truck got onto the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 heading south. Deputies did not pursue the vehicle on I-5 due to concerns about the safety of deputies and other motorists on the highway, Weiss said.

While on I-5, the driver allegedly hit a semi-truck. The status of the semi and its driver were not available from the Washington State Patrol Friday.

Sheriff’s deputies waited near Mounts Road, off exit 116 in DuPont, for the vehicle to reappear. When the truck barreled into DuPont, officer reengaged their pursuit, now heading for the town of Steilacoom, Weiss said.

Waiting for the truck were spike strips set up by Steilacoom police. The driver of the truck hit the strips, blowing his tires, but kept on driving for another mile, Weiss said.

When he eventually stopped the truck, the driver left the vehicle and ran from the scene. Officers quickly tackled him to the ground, Weiss said.

He was then arrested on suspicion of eluding a police vehicle and first-degree malicious mischief. He was not charged with vehicular assault after hitting a sheriff’s truck earlier in the night because deputies said it was clear he had no intent to cause harm or injury.

He was booked into the Thurston County jail where he was scheduled to appear in court Friday.

This story was originally published August 7, 2020 at 9:45 AM.