Accused Street Racers Chased Wash. Deputy During Pursuit

By Puneet Bsanti

Source The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.)

A pursuit against several alleged street racers took a turn when one of them began to chase a Pierce County deputy's vehicle on Saturday.

Deputies were conducting street-racing patrols when they received reports of drivers doing doughnuts and burnouts in the 6000 block of 192nd Street East in Frederickson at about 10 p.m. There were about 30 cars in the warehouse parking lot, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department on Facebook.

The area is near where two men died after both of their vehicles burst into flames following a crash in August on Canyon Road. The crash occurred when one of the drivers was street racing and ran a red light, striking the other vehicle.

"This is what we're trying to prevent," Pierce County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Darren Moss told The News Tribune.

In Saturday's incident, deputies turned on their sirens and lights, but the alleged street racers drove off, the post said.

A deputy noticed that two of the cars appeared to be chasing another deputy that was pursuing a separate vehicle. One of the vehicles was a red Ford Mustang, the post said.

A PIT maneuver was used to stop the Mustang for the safety of the deputy being chased, the post said. The vehicles were allegedly driving over 80 miles per hour, according to charging documents.

A 18-year-old driver was booked into Pierce County Jail on suspicion of eluding, reckless driving and street-racing attendance, the post said. A 20-year-old passenger was booked for street-racing attendance. They have been been arrested for street racing previously.

The men received misdemeanor charges for reckless driving and being an accomplice, or complicit to a crime, court records show.

Another deputy pursued a black Chevy SS that drove away from the warehouse. Washington State Patrol's traffic-control aircraft tracked the Chevy, the post said.

The 20-year-old driver and 15-year-old passenger parked and left the Chevy in the 4900 block of 161st Street East where they hid behind a shed. Deputies set up a perimeter, the post said.

The 20-year-old and 15-year-old surrendered after deputies announced a K-9 was on its way, the post said. They were both arrested.

Prosecutors charged the 20-year-old with attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, which is a felony. Pierce County Superior Court Judge Stanley Rumbaugh set his bail at $2,500 on Monday. Rumbaugh also ordered the man to surrender his driver's license prior to his release. The 20-year-old was released on bond.

The 15-year-old was arrested for suspicion of street racing and released to a guardian, the post said. He was not charged, according to the prosecutor's office.

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