Kent Police successfully recovered a stolen Hyundai Sonata and arrested two suspects following a vehicle pursuit and coordinated foot chase during the holiday weekend.
Police said the incident began when Officer Campbell, on routine patrol on Kent-Des Moines Road, was alerted to a stolen vehicle traveling westbound on Willis Street. The car, confirmed to have been stolen in Tukwila on Oct. 28, was intercepted by Officers Campbell and Steiner as it turned westbound onto Reith Road.
When officers activated their emergency lights, the driver attempted to flee. During a brief pursuit, officers requested spike strips, but before reaching the deployment site, Officer Campbell executed a precision immobilization technique (PIT) maneuver. The maneuver spun the vehicle around, and officers quickly pinned it to prevent further flight.
The suspects, a 40-year-old Tacoma man and a 28-year-old Tacoma woman, fled on foot. Officer Campbell apprehended the female suspect after a chase up a hill, while Officer Steiner and supporting officers pursued the male suspect, who ran into a residential area.
A homeowner confronted the male suspect, drawing attention to his location. Officer Quidachay, assisted by Officer C. Clark, took the man into custody without further incident. Though he claimed to have ingested drugs, hospital staff determined he was medically stable and cleared for booking.
The investigation uncovered stolen items, including prescription medication, a passport, and mail, which were returned to their rightful owners. Both suspects were transported to jail after medical evaluations.
The male suspect was booked on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, eluding police, obstructing, driving with a suspended license, and outstanding warrants, including one in King County for possession of a stolen vehicle.
The female suspect, who had a no-bail felony warrant out of Lakewood for second-degree assault, was booked into SCORE Jail.
“Great teamwork and tactics all around by these Officers on Sergeants Clay and Barbour’s crews,” police said in a statement.
