Video Clips: Air 1 & Deputies Assist WSP - Wanted & Suspected Impaired Driver Refuses to Stop

Air 1 and Body Camera Video Clips: Air 1 and Deputies Assist WSP Troopers - Wanted and Suspected Impaired Driver Refuses to Stop and Flees

NOTE: A second, uninvolved driver (adult female) disobeyed Deputies who were blocking traffic at the scene where the initial suspect was arrested. She was later booked into jail for Driving while Under the Influence.

Air 1 and Spokane Valley/Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted Washington State Patrol (WSP) Troopers in stopping and arresting a wanted suspect who was believed to be impaired and refused to pull over. The suspect fled from patrol vehicles and drove recklessly, even turning off his headlights and taillights in an attempt to evade capture. Fortunately, the Spokane Regional Air Support Unit’s (SRASU) Air 1 quickly located the suspect’s vehicle and provided real-time updates to the responding Deputies and Troopers on the ground. During the pursuit, the suspect crashed into a Deputy’s vehicle, rendering it inoperable. The suspect was eventually apprehended after hitting a parked trailer, at which point Deputies boxed him in to prevent escape.

Throughout the chase, Deputies successfully deployed spike strips and attempted a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT), but it was unsuccessful. The suspect was found to have a felony warrant due to a U.S. Marshal Hold, along with two valid misdemeanor warrants for Driving without an Interlock Device as Required and Driving while Under the Influence. He was booked into jail for his warrants and several new charges, including Assault 2nd Degree for ramming the Deputy’s fully marked patrol car with him inside.

Air 1 Flight Crew

Pilot: Sam Pierce
TFO: C. Ruff, Detective, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
TFO: B. Lynch, Sergeant, Spokane Police Department

Full Press Release: https://www.spokanecounty.gov/Documen...