Convicted felons arrested after PIT maneuver ends high-speed pursuit in Tacoma, fentanyl seized

Two convicted felons with outstanding warrants were arrested on Sunday after leading police on a pursuit in an unlicensed vehicle in the Nisqually area.

A Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) deputy attempted a traffic stop, but the driver fled. Deputies requested air support to aid in the pursuit, but nothing was available, TCSO reported.

The male driver, along with a female passenger, fled toward Tacoma. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, Tacoma Police Department (TPD), and Washington State Patrol (WSP) assisted in the pursuit.

TPD spiked the fleeing vehicle, damaging its tires, and TCSO conducted a successful PIT maneuver to end the pursuit.

The passenger was immediately taken into custody, but the driver attempted to flee the scene while ditching a large amount of money. The male driver was quickly apprehended on foot.

Fentanyl, distribution materials found during vehicle search

TCSO noted the driver is a multi-time convicted felon with four warrants out for his arrest throughout the I-5 corridor. The warrants are for crimes including possession of a stolen vehicle, attempting to elude, hit and run, DUI, and driving while license suspended in the first degree.

A search warrant was conducted on the vehicle, which yielded fentanyl and distribution materials. The driver was booked for attempting to elude, possession of fentanyl with intent to deliver, driving on a revoked license in the first degree, obstructing, and his outstanding warrants.

The female passenger provided law enforcement with a false name to avoid arrest for her outstanding warrants. She is also a convicted felon and has active warrants for escape, second-degree theft, making false statements, and first-degree ID theft.

The female claimed that she swallowed fentanyl, which is a tactic used to prevent law enforcement from medically clearing a suspect, and instead releasing them.

While she was en route to the hospital to be medically cleared, she grabbed some fentanyl from her genital area, while she was handcuffed, and attempted to swallow it.

Once she is cleared from the hospital, she will be booked for her warrants, first-degree criminal impersonation, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

“Great work by all the involved agencies to get some career criminals into custody again,” TCSO stated.

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