2 theft suspects arrested at gunpoint after pursuit through downtown Olympia
By: -----
Olympia, WA - Two people were arrested at gunpoint after a pursuit through downtown Olympia on Sunday, Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders said on social media.
Sanders posted about the pursuit and arrest at 2:41 a.m. Monday. His post included dashcam footage of the pursuit, which took place around 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
Sanders said TCSO received information earlier in the day that a pair of organized retail theft suspects were fleeing north on I-5 from Lewis County into Thurston County. This was allegedly after the pair went on a theft spree and used stolen bags from one store to steal merchandise from another.
“The pair were also involved in a theft in Lacey just three days prior where they were not apprehended,” Sanders said.
He said a TSCO deputy spotted the suspect vehicle north on I-5 in Olympia. The truck fled before the deputy activated their emergency lights. The deputy initiated a pursuit, which was terminated after an unsuccessful maneuver to stop the vehicle on an overpass coming into the city.
In the dashcam video, the suspect vehicle is seen speeding through the roundabout at Jefferson Street and 14th Avenue. It then heads west toward the Capitol Campus before turning north onto Capitol Way.
Sanders said he and deputies spotted the truck leaving downtown a few minutes later, and another pursuit was initiated. He said the truck began blowing through intersections heading into Lacey at high speeds, and the pursuit was terminated because the suspects were driving recklessly.
Sanders said the truck was later found abandoned near College Street, and a police dog pursuit was initiated. He said both suspects were found walking through a nearby neighborhood. They were taken into custody at gunpoint.
He said a female suspect was turned over to the Centralia Police department on suspicion of organized retail theft. A search warrant was obtained for the truck, and thousands of dollars of stolen merchandise from numerous stores was found.
Sanders alleged the suspect also had a “custom bong device” built into the dash of the truck so he could “comfortably smoke drugs while driving.” He said a search warrant to get a blood sample of the driver for driving under the influence was obtained.
“The stolen merchandise was recovered from the truck in addition to meth, heroin, and fentanyl,” Sanders said. “The driver is a four-time convicted felon for numerous thefts, has 27 misdemeanor convictions, and 97 prior arrests.”
Sanders said the man was booked into Thurston County Jail on suspicion of DUI, eluding and possession of narcotics. He said once the man is released from Thurston County, he will face organized retail theft charges in Lewis County.