Car prowl suspect fled cops, led Thurston County Sheriff on 135 mph chase
A smashed car window in Lacey led to a police pursuit early Saturday morning that had Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders chasing a suspect at 135 mph on Interstate 5 until the suspect went the wrong way on the freeway.
Sanders detailed the high-speed chase in a social media post that included video from his patrol car and a Washington State Patrol airplane that monitored the suspect as he entered King County and was arrested by troopers.
Sanders called the suspect “likely the most dangerous driver in the state.” The man has 14 prior felony convictions, according to Sanders, including for DUI vehicular homicide, and a warrant had been issued for his arrest for failing to comply with the conditions of his release from prison.
“It is truly astounding that this individual is still out wreaking havoc on our roadways as it is nothing short of a miracle that he didn’t commit his second DUI vehicular homicide tonight,” Sanders wrote in a Facebook post.
Lacey police initially tried to stop the suspect, who was driving a stolen BMW SUV, following a report of a vehicle prowl in progress. Sanders said the suspect fled at high speed, and the traffic stop was ended. Sanders said he then saw the driver going 90 mph in a 35 mph zone on College Street and began to pursue him.
Sanders said the driver went north on Interstate 5 and the pursuit reached 135 mph before the suspect took a ramp to go the wrong way on the interstate. Sanders said he followed from the correct side of the interstate, but air support wasn’t available at the time and the driver got away.
Minutes later, Sanders said, a Sheriff’s Office deputy located the BMW and the driver fled again. The deputy pursuing him crashed into a ditch at the Sleater Kinney exit. Sanders said the deputy was not injured.
The pursuit started up again a short while later, according to Sanders, and the Sheriff’s Office and the State Patrol chased the suspect at speeds up to 135 mph into King County. Sanders said the suspect tried to spray pursuing patrol cars with a fire extinguisher.
The State Patrol’s airplane, “Smokey,” then took flight. Deputies and troopers stopped chasing the suspect while the plane monitored the vehicle. Although no one was pursuing him, Sanders said the suspect continued to blow through busy intersections at 90-100 mph.
After parking near his house, two troopers moved in, Sanders said. The suspect reportedly rammed one of their vehicles and fled on foot. Sanders said he fell, and troopers tackled him.
The suspect was searched when he was arrested, and Sanders said law enforcement found suspected methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Sanders said the man was booked into jail on suspicion of attempting to elude, reckless driving, felony DUI, first-degree driving with a suspended license, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property, obstructing, possession narcotics and failing to have an ignition interlock device.
