Video. Wash. Deputy's Grappler Ends Chase of Fleeing Armed Burglary Suspect
What to know
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Thurston County sheriff's deputies pursued and captured an armed suspect Thursday night after a burglary and vehicle theft at a commercial property.
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The suspect fled in a stolen pickup, fired at pursuing officers and later surrendered after a 30-minute standoff negotiated by Sheriff Derek Sanders.
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The six-time felon faces multiple charges including burglary, auto theft, unlawful firearm possession and attempting to elude police.
Source The Chronicle, Centralia, Wash.
A derailed burglary led to the police pursuit, standoff and eventual capture of an armed suspect Thursday night, according to Thurston County Sheriff (TCSO) Derek Sanders.
Sanders said deputies were first dispatched to a commercial burglary-in-progress near Old Highway 99 after a neighbor had called to report that an unknown suspect was inside a shop and "attempting to steal a tractor inside by ramming the doors open."
"When deputies arrived, they observed a commercial building with substantial damage, a cut-open gate, and a white pickup truck fleeing the scene," Sanders wrote on Facebook early Friday morning after the incident.
Deputies initiated a pursuit of the fleeing vehicle. Chehalis Tribal Police responded with aid and spiked the truck, after which a TCSO sergeant deployed his grappler — a tool secured to the front of a police vehicle that can release a net under the rear tire of a suspect's vehicle.
That net latches onto the tire and tethers the vehicles together, allowing police to pull a suspect's vehicle to a stop.
According to Sanders, last night's chase lasted 2 minutes and 32 seconds before officers successfully halted the suspect's vehicle.
The armed suspect then fled on foot — and allegedly shot his weapon.
"K-9 Manny and his handler began tracking the suspect, at which point the suspect opened fire, Sanders wrote. "Units took cover and retreated to obtain their AR-15s and set a perimeter as SWAT members responded."
Another K-9, Arco, and his handler from the Olympia Police Department, located the suspect a short time later in thick brush.
"I responded to their location and tried to negotiate with the suspect, however he made threats to shoot at us," Sanders wrote. "When I asked him to drop the gun, he stated, 'The only way I'm dropping this gun is after I pull the trigger.'"
Sanders said he negotiated with the suspect in an attempt to build rapport. After about 30 minutes, the suspect "surrendered peacefully."
Officers found the firearm in the trash can of a nearby house.
During the investigation, officers learned that the suspect stole the truck during the burglary and inflicted "thousands of dollars in damage" to the building, according to Sanders.
"It appears the suspect was attempting to steal power equipment and tractors along with the truck," Sanders wrote.
According to Sanders, the suspect has been convicted for felonies six times for crimes such as dealing methamphetamine, possession of stolen property, eluding police and burglary.
The suspect also has 13 additional misdemeanor convictions for crimes including assault, resisting arrest and reckless driving, Sanders wrote.
The sheriff indicated the suspect was in the process of being medically cleared prior to his booking into Thurston County Jail for charges of first-degree burglary, auto theft, first-degree theft, first-degree malicious mischief, attempting to elude, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and two counts of first-degree attempted theft.
Sanders did not release the suspect's name.
"The level of skill, communication, and discipline that all of the deputies, officers, troopers, and dispatchers displayed during this incident is probably as close as you can get to perfect patrol tactics and decision making," Sanders wrote.
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