Thurston County Sheriff’s deputy involved in early Friday shooting

Nobody was injured but a Thurston County deputy is on paid administrative leave after firing his weapon at a suspect who was driving toward him early Friday morning, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s department.

Because it was an officer-involved shooting, an investigation is being conducted by the Regional Critical Incident Team composed of detectives from Lewis, Mason, Grays Harbor counties and WSP offices. The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office will not be part of the investigating team, said Lt. Tim Rudloff, a spokesman for the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.

According to a Sheriff’s Office news release, the deputy observed a vehicle speeding near Second Avenue and Old Highway 410 Northwest near Mud Bay about 3:45 a.m. Friday. When the deputy signaled for the driver to stop, the driver sped away.

The pursuit went for about 2 miles, and stopped when the suspect’s vehicle came to a dead end in a driveway. The deputy blocked the exit with his car and left his vehicle to make the arrest.

Police say the suspect turned his vehicle and headed straight for the deputy. The deputy fired at the suspect. The suspect was not hit, but immediately complied with the deputy’s commands.

The suspect was taken into custody and booked into Thurston County Jail for eluding and first-degree assault. The Olympian doesn’t name suspects until they have appeared in court.

Sgt. Carla Carter, a spokeswoman with the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, said the vehicle that the suspect was driving was stolen.

Other details, including the estimated speed during the pursuit, were not being released on Friday because the investigation report was still being worked on.

“It was an officer-involved shooting, so it takes a while for those to go through,” Carter said.

The deputy has been with Thurston County Sheriff’s Office for one year, and has an additional three years of law enforcement experience, according to the Sheriff’s Office’s release.

This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 9:23 AM with the headline "Thurston County Sheriff’s deputy involved in early Friday shooting."