Video: Wash. Police Stop Suspect from Lighting Explosive as He Flees
An unusual vehicle and foot chase of a suspect in a stolen vehicle over the weekend took an even more unusual turn when a suspect tried to light an improvised explosive while fleeing police in Washington.
The incident happened shortly before 6:40 a.m. Saturday when Bellevue police received a report of a two men sleeping in an idling car in a parking lot, KING-TV reports. When officers arrived, they discovered the vehicle was stolen and ordered the men to exit it.
Once the men woke up, the driver sped off, but the car's tires were quickly deflated with stop sticks. A low-speed chase only reaching of roughly 10 mph ensued, and the car reached Interstate 90.
During the pursuit, the passenger jumped from the slow-moving vehicle, and police arrested the 48-year-old man. He was found with 50 fentanyl pills, and officers discovered he was wanted on a felony warrant.
Washington State Patrol troopers joined the chase and executed a PIT maneuver on the vehicle after the passenger bailed out. The driver exited the car, and as he fled on foot, he appeared to use a lighter to light an improvised explosive device before he was tackled to the ground by troopers.
The driver was arrested and charged with second-degree assault, possession of explosive device, possession of incendiary device, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle and possession of stolen vehicle.
According to ATF officials, the improvised explosive device was a tennis ball with 50 grams of explosive powder inside and a fuse in it. Two more explosives were also found in the car.
