LYNNWOOD—A high-speed chase on I-5 of a stolen Washington State Patrol (WSP) vehicle on Christmas Day ended in Mountlake Terrace with the arrest of a male suspect.
Video footage obtained by TMZ show a man casually walking across I-5 near Northgate Way obstructing traffic at approximately 12 p.m. on December 25. Shortly after a WSP vehicle approaches the scene, the man can be seen casually opening the driver’s side door of the cruiser. The trooper, a female lieutenant, appears to begin stepping out of the vehicle when the man suddenly grabs her, then toss her to the pavement like a sack of potatoes.
The lieutenant jumps up, grabs the driver’s side door handle in an attempt to regain entry of her vehicle. After several unsuccessful attempts to open the door, the vehicle drives off dodging passing vehicles on I-5 leaving the Lieutenant stranded on I-5 with no serious injuries.
“A WSP Lieutenant contacted a pedestrian that was running across the freeway,” according to WSP Trooper Rick Johnson. “The pedestrian pushed her down and stole the patrol vehicle.”
State Patrol cruiser stolen: A suspect assaulted a trooper then stole her car on I-5. Other troopers chased the car and spun it out in Snohomish County.
Nobody hurt, suspect in custody. In the video, the stolen cruiser is the gray unmarked. @komonews @wastatepatrol pic.twitter.com/WoHMww8BUz
WSDOT cameras show a highspeed pursuit of the stolen WSP cruiser from Northgate on I-5 Northbound all the to Lynnwood, then at some point the vehicle entered I-5 Southbound in Lynnwood. The vehicle was stopped—ending at least an 8-mile high-speed pursuit—when a WSP cruiser slammed into it at exit 179 (220th St SW / Mountlake Terrace) then pinning it against a mound with assistance from an unmarked red law enforcement vehicle.
The male suspect was apprehended and taken into custody.
Thursday’s incident comes just days after the death of Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting who was struck by a vehicle on I-5 in Tacoma.
WSP is hosting a memorial service for fallen Trooper Guting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 27, at Life Center Central Campus located at 1717 S. Union Ave, Tacoma, WA 98405. The service will not include a law enforcement processional, and will focus on family, friends, and colleagues.
The Tacoma Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a vehicle of interest involved in the fatal collision that occurred on Friday, December 19, on State Route 509.
The vehicle of interest is described as a dark pickup truck, possibly black in color. It is believed to be either a Chevrolet Avalanche (four-door) or a Cadillac Escalade EXT-style pickup (four-door). The vehicle may have tinted windows, chrome door handles, and chrome running boards. No license plate information is available.
Anyone who witnessed the collision, observed the vehicle of interest, or may have dash-camera footage from southbound SR-509 in the area of Port of Tacoma Road around 7:20–7:30 p.m. is urged to contact investigators.
Tips can be directed to the Tacoma Police Department or submitted through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Author: Mario Lotmore
