A 26-year-old Auburn man was arrested early Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, after leading officers on a pursuit through Kent and SeaTac before his vehicle was stopped with a PIT maneuver and spike strips, Kent Police said.
Police reported the incident began around 2:50 a.m. when Patrol Officer Petersen spotted a blue Volkswagen Jetta without a license plate on West Meeker Street. The driver attempted to hide his face as the officer passed.
“Officer Petersen requested backup due to the multiple occupants and the possible presence of a gun in the car,” Kent Police said in a statement.
The Jetta had been linked to an earlier incident in Tukwila, where a man and woman inside the vehicle reportedly pointed a gun at a security officer near Southcenter.
When officers attempted to stop the car, the driver fled. Police said several neighboring agencies joined the pursuit, setting up spike strips in multiple locations. The suspect avoided several attempts but struck one set of strips near Pacific Highway and South 16th Avenue, deflating his tires.
K9 Officer Robinson and K9 Atena then performed a PIT maneuver, forcing the vehicle to stop. The driver and two passengers surrendered without further incident. A realistic-looking BB gun was recovered from the car.
The suspect was booked on charges of felony eluding and a $5,100 Auburn warrant for reckless endangerment. His identity and those of his passengers were provided to Tukwila Police for further investigation into the Southcenter case.
Police later obtained a search warrant for the Jetta, where they discovered a homemade pipe bomb. The Seattle Police Department Bomb Squad disposed of the device.
Kent Police commended the coordinated effort.
“Great proactive police work by Officer Petersen and excellent teamwork by his crew to get this suspect into custody,” the department said, adding thanks to neighboring agencies who “responded to multiple locations during the pursuit to set spike strips and offer support.”
