Olympia police car smashed by suspect fleeing police in stolen tow truck

An Olympia officer sustained minor injuries after her patrol vehicle was hit by a tow truck driven by a suspect who led officers from multiple police departments in a high-speed chase.

Law enforcement personnel from Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office responded to a March 26 incident involving Shane A. Michaelson, 30, of Longview.

Initially, Olympia police responded to a report of a tow truck stolen from Summit Towing.

A Summit Towing driver told authorities that he was called to tow a vehicle. He then gave a ride to the driver of the towed car, later identified as Michaelson, who asked for him and his vehicle to be taken to Longview.

The Summit Towing driver told police that he requested payment in advance for the tow.  When Michaelson refused, he said he would  instead  tow the car to the company’s towing yard. The employee said he had just unloaded Michaelson’s vehicle and was walking back to his truck when he heard the air brakes go off.

The truck then started driving away, the employee said, explaining that Michaelson transferred from the passenger seat to the driver’s seat while he was out of the truck.

Olympia police followed Michaelson but the suspect refused to yield, leading to a chase in which the suspect allegedly ran through red lights and swerved “wildly” into incoming lanes of traffic.

“It should be noted, throughout the entirety of our pursuit, the stolen tow truck was driving with extreme indifference to the lives of citizens and officers,” one Sheriff’s deputy wrote. “I have never seen a suspect drive so aggressively and disregard everyone’s lives so recklessly for a property crime in my career to this point.”

Officers said they used various maneuvers and tools to get the suspect to stop, but to no avail.

At the intersection of Lilly Road and Martin Way, police deployed a tire deflation device, but the suspect managed to miss it by quickly swerving to the left, according to the reports.

At this point, one Lacey officer wrote, “the stolen truck accelerated and drove directly towards me.” The officer ran south to avoid getting hit, but Michaelson followed until the truck was facing the direction of the officer.

The officer ordered Michaelson to exit the vehicle, but the suspect refused.

“The suspect then accelerated in reverse, re-entering the roadway of Martin Way,” the officer wrote. “The stolen truck drove directly towards an Olympia PD patrol car that was stopped on Martin Way. I observed the suspect hit the patrol vehicle, lift up into the air and continue to accelerate in reverse. The suspect drove up onto the hood and front driver’s side panel of the patrol vehicle then continued in reverse for a short distance.”

Multiple civilians and officers likewise reported witnessing the tow truck slam into the Olympia patrol car.

One civilian witness wrote: “Tow truck unwilling to stop, causing traffic. [It] reverse[d] backwards, hitting a cop car and yelling, ‘F**k you cops, you’re not catching me,’ and drives away from the scene.”

The officer driving the patrol car, a female aged 53, was described as being in shock and unable to speak in full sentences. She complained of pain in her left knee and left wrist.

Later, the injured officer said she saw Michaelson drive directly toward one Lacey officer. She intended to turn into a parking lot when the truck abruptly reversed, ramming into her patrol car. She was taken to a hospital for her injuries.

Sheriff’s deputies successfully immobilized the tow truck on 143rd Avenue, prompting Michaelson to exit the vehicle. The suspect was detained after a 100-yard chase on foot.

Michaelson admitted to an Olympia officer that he stole the truck because he was stranded. Asked why he did not stop for police, the suspect replied, “I wanted to be free.” He denied intentionally driving toward officers.

The suspect was booked into the Thurston County Jail for second-degree assault, theft of motor vehicle, and eluding police vehicle.