By Martín Bilbao
The Olympian (Olympia, Wash.)
THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — Thurston County deputies arrested a 42-year-old man accused of eluding law enforcement on Interstate 5 Wednesday night.
The pursuit occurred at around 11 p.m. Wednesday in Olympia, Sheriff Derek Sanders shared on Facebook.
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Olympia officers attempted to stop the driver for operating their car without headlights, Sanders said, however the driver allegedly did not pull over and continued onto southbound Interstate 5. A deputy with K9 Igo performed a precision immobilization technique (PIT) maneuver with their patrol car on the highway, Sanders said.
The 42-year-old driver’s car spun out and collided with a center barrier, according to a video shared by Sanders. The video shows the man exited his car on his feet with his arms raised.
Sanders alleged the man “exhibited obvious signs of narcotics impairment.” Deputies arrested him on the highway near Trosper Road and impounded his car, according to Sanders and the jail log. No patrol cars sustained damage, Sanders said.
Deputies later booked the man into the county jail on suspicion of driving under the influence, third-degree driving while license suspended, failure to obey a police officer and operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock when required, per the jail log.
Though the man was initially booked into the county jail, records show he was transferred to the Nisqually jail Thursday on suspicion of a Department of Corrections violation.
In his post, Sanders said the man has been convicted of seven felonies. He further stated there was a warrant for the man’s arrest for allegedly failing to register as a sex offender.
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