‘It’s genuinely a failure’: Thurston County sheriff rips state for how it handles violent repeat felons

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders said a high-speed chase that hit 120 mph was worth the risk because the suspect was a 14-time convicted felon. According to Sanders, it was the man’s fifth high-speed chase for which he was incarcerated. The man also has at least six prior assaults.

Sanders told “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio that deputies caught the suspect, but he never should have been on the road in the first place. He faulted state leadership for continuing to release violent repeat offenders.

“How we are dealing with the 1% of people — the 15-, 30-, 40-time convicted felons, people being arrested for their 99th time — how we are managing that as a state is a failure. It’s genuinely a failure,” he said. “I have to keep dialing this in. We’re not talking about shoplifting suspects who are hungry. We’re talking about people who steal cars, who burglarize homes, who stab other people, who kill other people. The amount of people I’ve come across lately who are convicted felons for murder is baffling.”

Thurston County sheriff looks to reform state’s bail system

The suspect was released on just $1,500 bail, a sign, Sanders said, that the system needs reform. He said he’s seen poor people sit in jail over petty theft because they can’t make bail, while wealthy suspects charged with homicide walk free. Therefore, Sanders said he would switch to a system that asks two questions: Are you going to show up at your next court date based on your prior history? Are you a threat to community safety?

“I’m going to argue, if you’re a 14-time convicted felon and you like to hurt people and go on high-speed chases, that you’re a threat to community safety, just get held until your trial. And if you’re not, we release you,” Sanders said.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.