A driver accused of eluding authorities while driving under the influence is now facing two separate bails totaling $75,000 after being pursued by Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders and two other police agencies.
Last week, Sanders pursued a stolen vehicle that struck a Tumwater patrol car and fled towards west Olympia.
The vehicle was found “driving backwards through a roundabout,” the Thurston County Sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post. This established reasonable suspicion for DUI.
With the aid of a Washington State Patrol aircraft and a K9 unit Igo, Sanders pursued the vehicle to West Olympia near Harrison, where it crashed at a dead end.
The driver was booked into the Thurston County Jail for eluding, hit and run, possession of a stolen vehicle, and driving under the influence, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO).
The Chehalis Tribal Police Department also said it established probable cause for eluding and vehicle prowling from when the same suspect fled from them.
The Thurston County Superior Court set a $50,000 bail for the charges, which falls on top of a $25,000 bail for a burglary warrant out of Lewis County.
No bail, however, was set for a felony escape warrant from the Department of Corrections that included original convictions for assault, eluding, unlawful possession of a firearm, and felony harassment.
Sheriff’s involvement brought criticism and support
The incident has prompted Sanders to address concerns about him personally pursuing the suspect. In a Facebook video, Sanders said the car chase incident created a lot of conversation about his role as Sheriff. He said that around “90%” of his work is administrative duties. “Those tasks are being done,” Sanders assured, “Monday through Friday.”
“I understand the criticisms, I understand there’s some risk involved there, but I cannot live with myself sending deputies to go do work that I wouldn’t do myself,” he said in a video uploaded to Facebook. “I want to be held to the same exact standard that my deputies are.”
“There are problems that our deputies are facing on a day-to-day basis; I need to actually experience them,” Sanders added.
3 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
StetPslmer
Who and why are there questions about the sheriff's actions? I would expect him to be in the field at least part of the time.
Thursday, January 12, 2023 Report this
AugieH
Bravo Sheriff Sanders! It's always been my opinion, which has guided my own actions when in a supervisory position, that a supervisor should not expect subordinates to do something she/he wouldn't do herself/himself. I would deplore having as a supervisor anyone who would criticize that.
Friday, January 13, 2023 Report this
username73737737
I don't see a logical reason to criticize the Sheriff, I think all Police/Law Enforcement administrators and leaders should have to experience what their officers deal with on a day to day basis. The ones sitting in their offices back at the department and never doing any actual police field work should be reevaluated
Friday, January 13, 2023 Report this