Kent police arrested a 42-year-old Seattle man last week after officers say he tried to flee an East Hill oil change business in a stolen car, struck an occupied vehicle and ran through neighboring properties while discarding a loaded handgun.
A police drone tracked the man as officers pursued him over multiple fences, according to the Kent Police Department. Officers took him into custody as he approached school property.
The response began when employees working on a customer’s vehicle received information that it was stolen and called 911, police said. The vehicle was a 2015 Dodge Challenger.
Traffic Officer Brennan arrived in less than a minute, and a police drone responded to provide an overhead view. Additional officers arrived within a few minutes and positioned their vehicles to partially block the Challenger, according to the department.
Police said the driver, the car’s only occupant, climbed back inside and tried to reverse out of the service stall with the hood still open. He struck a smaller occupied vehicle behind him, became stuck and then got out.
The man ignored repeated commands to stop and ran, police said.
As officers followed on foot, drone operator Officer Sloan relayed updates on the man’s route. During the pursuit, Sloan saw him toss a handgun into a fenced area at another business, according to the department.
The pursuit continued over more fences before the man disappeared from pursuing officers’ view in an area with scattered tree cover. The drone located him and allowed Sloan to direct officers toward his position, police said.
Sloan also alerted officers that the man was about to enter school property. Officers approached from several directions and arrested him without further incident, according to the department.
Using the location provided by the drone operator, officers recovered an FN Herstal handgun chambered in 5.7×28 mm and loaded with 18 rounds, police said.
The man suffered injuries from barbed wire during the pursuit and was medically cleared before being booked into the King County Jail, according to police.
Police said he was booked on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle, unlawfully possessing a firearm, hit-and-run involving an occupied vehicle, obstructing, driving with a suspended license and violating an ignition interlock restriction. The department described him as having a prior felony conviction.
“Kent Officers will pursue you if you run,” police said. “Drones will assist them in quickly locating you and your evidence. You will go to jail. Perhaps crime elsewhere or better yet, not at all.”
The police account did not identify the man, the businesses or the school, or provide the incident’s exact date.
Photos courtesy Kent P.D.
