A man with an active Department of Corrections (DOC) escape warrant was arrested following a vehicle pursuit on State Route 512 and Interstate 5 (I-5) in the late afternoon of Sunday, May 18.
The incident started when a patrolling Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) deputy attempted to stop an SUV after the driver allegedly ran a stop sign.
The driver fled the scene, prompting a pursuit northbound on Interstate 5 into Pierce County.
TCSO shared video footage in a social media post of their patrol car dashcam, showing the suspect sideswiped a white work van before picking up a random bumper on the shoulder.
The pursuing deputy was able to keep up with the suspect vehicle and executed a PIT maneuver to stop the suspect vehicle.
“Initially the driver exited the SUV and cooperated but then lowered their hands into their waistband and got back into the car. The driver was taken into custody at gunpoint,” TCSO Sheriff Derek Sanders said.
Authorities later confirmed that the suspect, identified as Richard Iyall Paz, is a convicted felon under community supervision.
The 40-year-old suspect was booked into the Thurston County jail on charges of attempting to elude pursuing police vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia, hit-and-run, third-degree driving with license suspended, reckless driving, operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock device and a felony escape warrant.
Records show the suspect had several outstanding warrants from multiple jurisdictions along the I-5 corridor.
1 comment on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
jimlazar
That's a long list of violations, and the "felony escape" warrant is quite concerning.
But the risk to the public in a high speed chase of this type is unacceptable. There needs to be a better way.
Wednesday, May 21 Report this