A dramatic police chase unfolded in Washington state, escalating to a dangerous level when a suspect reportedly hurled a chainsaw at pursuing deputies during the high-speed pursuit, all caught on video.
The chaotic incident began shortly before midnight on April 19. A woman reported that her vehicle had been stolen from an apartment complex in the Parkland area, prompting Pierce County deputies to spring into action.
Just minutes after the report, a K-9 deputy spotted the stolen vehicle. The driver attempted to flee, ignoring orders to stop, and thus initiated a high-speed chase. The pursuit quickly gained intensity as the vehicle raced onto Interstate 5 heading south, with two suspects reportedly inside, as captured by video and radio transmissions.
Footage provided by the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office shows the stolen car speeding down the interstate, with deputies in hot pursuit during the tense late-night chase. During the early stages of the pursuit, a deputy noted over the radio that traffic was light, allowing pursuit speeds to reach approximately 70 mph.
A stolen vehicle speeds along Interstate 5 as deputies pursue it during a late-night chase. (Pierce County Sheriff’s Office)
Early in the pursuit, a deputy could be heard calling out that there was little traffic ahead as speeds reached around 70 mph.
The situation escalated when a deputy suddenly radioed, “Just threw a chainsaw,” warning that the passenger was tossing objects out of the window and telling other units to “keep your eyes open.”
Investigators said the suspect also threw rope and climbing gear onto the roadway as deputies continued the pursuit.
Officials said this is the point where the chase took a dangerous turn, as the passenger’s actions created a serious hazard for pursuing deputies.
The pursuit continued off Interstate 5 toward Joint Base Lewis McChord. As the suspects exited toward a logistics gate, the stolen vehicle became stuck near a roundabout.
Deputies detain a suspect near a fenced area after a K-9 track following the chase. (Pierce County Sheriff’s Office)
Audio and video from deputies captured the moment the chase came to a stop, with one officer saying, “He’s stuck… get set up around here,” as units quickly moved in to contain the area.
Both suspects then bailed out of the vehicle and ran. A deputy could be heard broadcasting a description of the driver, saying he was wearing “black pants, white shirt,” as officers spread out and set up a perimeter.
With the suspects on foot, deputies then deployed a K-9 unit to track them. Before releasing the dog, an officer issued a clear warning that was captured on video, saying, “My dog will find you, he will bite you,” giving the suspect a chance to surrender.
A suspect runs through brush as deputies track him with a K-9 unit after a high-speed pursuit. (Pierce County Sheriff’s Office)
Moments later, the K-9 located the passenger and the video captured the tense takedown as deputies closed in and repeatedly shouted commands, including “Hands up” and “Get on your stomach,” ordering the suspect to show his hands and lie flat on the ground before he was taken into custody.
Authorities said the 31-year-old passenger was transported to a hospital for treatment of a dog bite. He was expected to face multiple charges, including first-degree assault for allegedly throwing the chainsaw and other items at deputies, along with possession of motor vehicle theft tools and attempting to elude, officials said.
The 28-year-old driver initially escaped but was later located by military police on the base and taken into custody. He has been booked on charges of felony eluding and theft of a motor vehicle, according to officials.
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