By The JOLT Staff
A multiagency effort to nab a fleeing motorist ended in the arrest of two convicted felons last weekend.
The incident started when a Thurston County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) deputy attempted to stop an unlicensed vehicle in the Nisqually area. But the driver fled and a pursuit ensued.
"Deputies requested air support, however nothing was available. The driver fled to Tacoma, where Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, Tacoma PD (Police Department), and WSP (Washington State Patrol) assisted," said Sheriff Derek Sanders in a social media post on early Sunday morning, Feb. 22.
A member of the Tacoma Police Department was able to use a spike strip to slow the vehicle before the TCSO conducted a PIT (precision immobilization technique) manuever to end the pursuit.
An unidentified female passenger was immediately taken into custody, but the male driver attempted to flee the scene while apparently trying to ditch a large sum of cash along the way.
"He was quickly apprehended on foot. The driver is a (multi-time) convicted felon with four warrants out for his arrest throughout the I5 (Interstate 5) corridor for crimes, including possession of a stolen vehicle, attempting to elude, (hit-and-run), DUI (driving under the influence, and DWLS (driving while license suspended first degree)," said Sanders in the social media post.
A search warrant was subsequently obtained for the vehicle. The search turned up suspected fentanyl and distribution materials.
The driver, who was not identified, was booked for attempting to elude, possession of fentanyl with intent to deliver, driving on a revoked license in the first degree, obstructing and warrants.
The female passenger, who is also a convicted felon, allegedly provided a false name to avoid being taken into custody on outstanding warrants.
"The female claimed she swallowed fentanyl, a tactic used to try and prevent LE (law enforcement) from going through the trouble of medically clearing the suspect and instead releasing them," said Sanders in the social media post.
"While on her way to the hospital to be medically cleared, she obtained some fentanyl from her genital area (while handcuffed) and tried to swallow it."
Once she was medically cleared at the hospital, the female passenger was expected to be booked for her warrants.
"Great work by all the involved agencies to get some career criminals into custody again," said Sanders in the social media post.
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