By Lynnwood Times Staff
Lynnwood, Wash., March 12, 2021 – A 21-year-old male was arrested last night in Lynnwood near the 17100 block of 18th Place W after leading deputies on a high speed chase. The vehicle was clocked at speeds in excess of 100 mph.
The suspect was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for second-degree assault, driving with a suspended license, attempt to elude, and reckless endangerment.
The suspect, Benjamin David, if convicted could face up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $20,000.
Around 11:30 p.m. on March 11, Snohomish County deputies attempted to make a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 8200 block of 172nd St NE in Arlington. The suspect pulled over and stopped, but did not place his vehicle in park.
Due to a known previous eluding incident, the deputy remained in his vehicle for a moment to see if the driver was going to put the vehicle in park. Moments later, the driver accelerated and took off westbound on 172nd. The suspect was driving recklessly, going approximately 60 mph in a 35 and passing vehicles.
The deputy terminated the pursuit. Spike strips were deployed in the 5100 block of 172nd St NE and were successful.
Shortly after, the suspect was located driving southbound on I-5 north. Washington State Patrol (WSP) assisted in slowing other motorists in the area due to the suspect traveling the wrong way on I-5.
At 11:45 p.m. a deputy relocated the vehicle driving southbound I-5 in the flats and was now driving on the correct side of the roadway.
He was driving over 60 mph and swerving all over the roadway. The deputy attempted another traffic stop on the vehicle and the suspect accelerated over 100 mph southbound on SR 529 approaching Broadway in Everett.
The suspect continued to elude ranging in speeds from 25 mph to 110 mph. The suspect drove back to I-5 from Marine View Drive in Everett and again proceeded to drive the wrong way on I-5, going southbound in the northbound lanes. Deputies again terminated the pursuit.
Multiple deputies, officers and troopers began responding to the area to set stop sticks along I-5 and slow down other motorists traveling on I-5. The suspect continued driving the wrong way on I-5, again reaching speeds over 100 mph.
Washington State Patrol’s air support unit, Smokey, responded to assist with obtaining the suspect’s location as he traveled the wrong way down I-5.
While the suspect was continuing to drive southbound in the northbound lanes of I-5, a deputy began conducting another slowdown of motorists near 164th St SW.
The suspect’s vehicle was traveling approximately 100 mph and swerved from the HOV lane area, across multiple lanes of the freeway and drove head on towards the deputy’s vehicle on the opposite side of the freeway. The deputy swerved his vehicle across multiple lanes to avoid the suspect ramming him head on.
The suspect continued driving southbound in the northbound lanes of I-5, driving on the vehicle’s rims.
Deputies were trying to obtain a visual of the vehicle; however, they lost sight of the vehicle for a brief moment. Washington State Patrol (WSP) located the vehicle stopped south of 164th St SW on I-5.
Multiple units responded to the scene and the suspect fled on foot. A K-9 unit responded and began tracking.
WSP’s air unit, Smokey, located a heat signal near the 17100 block of 18th Place W. The K-9 team was also tracking towards that location. The K-9 team located the suspect in the 17100 block of 18th Place W and he was taken into custody.
Author: Mario Lotmore
