Suspect with outstanding warrant arrested after pursuit on foot

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) deputies arrested a suspect with an outstanding warrant from the Department of Corrections (DOC) when they responded to a report on his current whereabouts at Martin Terrace Apartments on November 30.

Deputies arrived at the apartment complex and initiated surveillance on the suspect, identified as Joseph Davis Desha.

After an hour of surveillance, the suspect emerged from his unit and headed towards the parking lot to his vehicle, a silver 2007 Chrysler 300.

Upon spotting the suspect, authorities drove their undercover vehicle with activated law enforcement lights inside the parking lot, blocking the suspect’s car.

Authorities identified themselves and commanded the suspect to step out of his vehicle, but the suspect abruptly flung open his car door and fled towards an adjacent field, leading authorities on a pursuit.

Despite repeated commands to halt, the suspect, known for his violent history disregarded the orders and continued running.

The officer “saw him reaching into jacket pockets, which made us very nervous that he may be retrieving a weapon to use against us,” the officer stated in the officer’s report.

Attempting to corner the suspect, officers deployed a taser, which proved ineffective, with the suspect running back to the parking lot, where he was finally tackled.

“He (the suspect) was very strong and further commands to place his hands behind his back were ignored as he continued to physically resist,” the deputy reported, with the suspect keeping his right hand under his torso to keep the officers from placing handcuffs on him.

One of the officers hit the suspect’s right side with his knee and finally, according to the officer, the suspect said a comment to the effect of, "Okay, I'm done," pulled out his right arm and surrendered.

After the suspect was detained, an officer revealed that he witnessed the suspect discarding an item onto the roof of one of the buildings during the pursuit.

Upon inspection, authorities discovered a Highpoint 9mm firearm, reported stolen from Federal Way, confirmed by the Auburn Police Department.

A search of the suspect’s car yielded what appeared to be, to the officer’s judgment: a small zip-lock bag containing two bags of cocaine, three bags of Fentanyl powder, one bag of methamphetamine, a glass smoking device, and a digital scale.

Department of Corrections took custody of the suspect and transported him to Capitol Medical Center for medical clearance.

After he was cleared, the suspect was transported to Thurston County Jail and booked on multiple charges, including three counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver while armed, first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, resisting arrest, obstructing law enforcement, and tampering with physical evidence.

Suspected narcotics and digital scale found inside the suspect’s car.