PUYALLUP, Wash. — A convicted felon is in custody after allegedly ramming a police vehicle head-on during a pursuit, causing the patrol car to catch fire, KIRO reported.
The Aug. 29 incident began when an officer attempted to stop a vehicle driving the wrong way on a one-way street in downtown Puyallup. The driver, suspected of being under the influence, refused to stop and fled the scene, police said.
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A second officer later spotted the vehicle and initiated a pursuit that continued through downtown toward River Road and North Meridian. Officers eventually lost sight of the suspect near that intersection, and no police units were actively pursuing the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Moments later, the suspect drove the wrong way on the bypass and intentionally struck a marked patrol vehicle head-on.
The vehicle belonged to a K-9 officer who was en route to assist in the pursuit with his police K-9 on board.
The collision caused the patrol car to catch fire. Fortunately, both the officer and his K-9 partner were able to escape before the flames spread. Responding officers used multiple fire extinguishers to control and suppress the blaze.
Neither the officer nor the K-9 was injured.
Investigators said they observed suspected drugs, firearms and ammunition in plain view inside the suspect’s vehicle. The vehicle was seized pending a search warrant.
The driver was arrested and booked into the Pierce County Jail on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges. His name has not yet been released.
