A Washington state man with an extensive criminal history was taken into custody after deputies say he led law enforcement on a high-speed chase through Thurston County, marking what authorities identified as his 98th arrest.
According to reporting from CBS affiliate KIRO 7, the incident began after the suspect allegedly stole thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise from multiple stores.
Deputies also connected the man and a woman traveling with him to a separate theft in Lacey just three days earlier, where they were not apprehended.
On the night of the arrest, deputies spotted a truck traveling north on Interstate 5 in Olympia.
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Authorities said that before deputies activated emergency lights, the driver accelerated and attempted to flee.
Deputies initiated a pursuit, but officials said the situation quickly escalated as the driver headed into downtown Olympia at high speeds.
A pursuit intervention technique was attempted but was unsuccessful, and deputies called off the chase as the truck continued driving through city streets.
Authorities reported that the driver then proceeded through multiple intersections at high speed while heading toward Lacey.
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Deputies again discontinued the pursuit due to what they described as “extremely reckless behavior of the fleeing driver.”
A short time later, the truck was located abandoned near College Street.
Deputies then searched the surrounding area and located the suspect and a female companion walking in a nearby neighborhood.
Both individuals were taken into custody at gunpoint.
Law enforcement officials said the suspect is a four-time convicted felon with dozens of prior convictions.
Following the arrest, he now faces additional charges that include driving under the influence, attempting to flee from police, and drug possession.
Deputies reported that the vehicle contained thousands of dollars’ worth of stolen merchandise.
Authorities also identified a “custom bong device” built into the dashboard of the truck.
In addition to the stolen items, deputies said they recovered multiple illegal substances from the vehicle, including methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl.
Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders commented on the arrest in a social media post, stating: “Nice work by deputies and dispatchers to get some career criminals into custody…. Again.”
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to process the case and prepare formal charges tied to the pursuit, theft allegations, and recovered evidence.
Officials have not released the identities of the suspect or the woman taken into custody with him.
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