By Joanna Putman
Police1
LACEY, Wash. — Dash camera footage captured an intense pursuit down a paved walking trail, FOX 13 reported.
The March 6 incident occurred when a Thurston County Sheriff’s Office deputy initiated a traffic stop, according to the report. The suspect initially stopped before speeding away, video shows.
After establishing reasonable suspicion for a DUI investigation, the deputies pursued the vehicle, according to the report.
Video shows that deputies were aware the suspect was heading toward a dead end and started to deploy spike strips. As the suspect circled back toward the officers, multiple attempts to deploy the spike strips failed, as captured on body camera footage. The suspect then veered onto a paved walking trail.
Dash camera footage shows the officers keeping pace with the suspect’s vehicle, a black pickup truck, as pedestrians scrambled to get out of the way.
After driving on the walking trail for several minutes, the suspect turned back onto a road, knocking a barrier to the side. One of the pursuing officers then performed a PIT maneuver, successfully turning the car around. After the suspect vehicle was turned around on the side of the road, the suspect began to speed away in reverse. Officers in three cruisers attempted to box the suspect in but were unsuccessful. The suspect reversed onto the roadway and continued to drive down the road.
Still reversing, the suspect went off the road and crashed into an RV. Officers used cruisers to box the suspect in and approached the vehicle with guns drawn. They instructed the suspect to show his hands and exit the vehicle. Instead, he revved the truck’s engine and unsuccessfully attempted to push his way out of the campsite, creating a cloud of smoke.
Eventually, the suspect’s window was broken; officers deployed a TASER at him and pulled him from the vehicle, video shows.
The suspect was arrested for prior active warrants for eluding and assault and an additional charge of DUI, according to the report. He also had eight previous convictions for assault on law enforcement officers, burglary, vehicle theft and impersonation. He has been released from jail despite having several pending cases in Superior Court.
