Four juvenile suspects were arrested after a car chase with law enforcement in a vehicle that was stolen last Sunday, March 10.
According to Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) in a news release, the incident began in Amazon Warehouse in Lacey, where the Lacey Police Department (LPD) was dispatched to investigate a vehicle prowl.
When responding officers arrived, they encountered a suspect vehicle, reported stolen from Tacoma, attempting to flee the scene and evading authorities.
TCSO assisted in the chase and began tailing the suspect vehicle, taking multiple exits off the freeway and weaving in and out of traffic.
Despite the suspects' attempts to shake off law enforcement, TCSO managed to deploy spike strips successfully, causing the suspect vehicle to crash into a gore point.
TCSO released body cam footage showing four TCSO deputies running after the four juvenile suspects who fled on foot after the crash, whom they eventually rounded up.
The suspects’ ages range from fourteen to seventeen years old.
“The driver was found in possession of a loaded .44 revolver. A second passenger was found with a stolen 9mm handgun that was stolen from a prior Lacey vehicle prowl. A third handgun with a scratched-off serial number was also in possession of a passenger,” TCSO reported.
The juvenile group was also suspected to be responsible for multiple vehicle prowls in the stretch of the I5 corridor.
All four suspects, hailing from the Tacoma Hilltop area, were taken into custody and are facing charges including eluding law enforcement, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen firearms and altering a firearm serial number.
In response to alleged criticism regarding TCSO's handling of the juveniles, TCSO Sheriff Derek Sanders voiced out his support for the deputies' efforts in arresting underage suspects.
"I want to make it clear that I entirely support the relentless efforts of our deputies who are routinely the last line of defense to stop these individuals BEFORE they kill someone,” Sanders said. “So long as I am here, TCSO will be an agency that employs Deputy Sheriffs, not armed secretaries."
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olyhiker
Good job. Keep it up.
Friday, March 15 Report this
SecondOtter
I don't know who is criticizing Derek Sanders and his commitment to doing the job we elected him to do, but obviously that person or persons have never: had a vehicle stolen, had a vehicle broken into, been robbed at gunpoint, been carjacked, had their home swatted or broken into. The bleeding hearts saying 'it's too dangerous to have the police chase criminals" are the cause of why these thieves run rampant. Did you know that the Washington state has the highest number of burglaries in the nation? And perhaps, bleeding hearts, that Chief Sanders is doing WHAT WE WANT HIM TO DO?
Does the bleeding heart understand that when one's car is stolen, it's totaled out. THe owner is left stranded..he or she can't get to work. Or take an ailing family member to an appointment. And no one..not the police department, or the state or the government or someone will make the owner whole. Nope. The owner's insurance company will write it off and then jack up the premiums.
In the meantime, the thieves..who are considered 'juveniles'...will be told, bad boy. We'll give you another chance to: steal, rob, burglarize, even kill. Because you are too young to understand. My arse. They know darned well they can do what they want and get away with it.
Bleeding heart criticizers...move. Leave Thurston county, please. We like Chief Sanders and support his efforts to rein in the rampant crime in our county.
Friday, March 15 Report this
bobkat
AMEN to 2nd Otters comments!
Friday, March 15 Report this