Repeat car thief climbed up tree over 200-foot cliff to avoid arrest in Thurston County
A 36-year-old man was finally arrested early Friday morning after he climbed 50 feet up a tree that stood over a 200-foot cliff above Puget Sound, Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders said in a social media post.
The incident began Dec. 25 when Olympia police located a stolen vehicle here that was from Seattle. The suspect fled on foot and escaped, but Olympia officers were able to obtain a photo of the suspect, according to Sanders.
Then late Thursday night, a 911 caller reported their car was stolen in west Olympia. An officer later spotted the vehicle being driven recklessly on Martin Way, but the officer didn’t attempt a traffic stop.
Sanders said the information about the suspect was shared with TCSO. A deputy attempted a traffic stop, but the driver refused to pull over and a pursuit was initiated on northbound I-5.
The suspect took the Marvin Road exit where deputies attempted a tactical vehicle intervention with a device called a grappler. The suspect turned down Waldron Lane Northeast, a dead-end road, and crashed into a guard rail near the beach.
The suspect fled on foot through a swamp, and a police dog was called to the scene. Lacey and Olympia police helped set up a perimeter.
A deputy used an infrared drone and located the suspect after 30 minutes of searching with the K9 team in a marsh. Sanders said the man was dangling 50 feet up in a tree that was hanging over a cliff with a 200-foot drop down to the water.
The man climbed down and was confirmed to be the same suspect from the previous auto theft.
The suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, resisting arrest, theft and possession of a motor vehicle, according to jail information.
This story was originally published December 27, 2024 at 8:48 AM.
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