A 41-year-old Kent man was taken into custody early Friday, Feb. 6 after police said he intentionally drove a suspected stolen vehicle into a patrol car during a downtown encounter.
According to Kent Police, Officer Toledo Blanco was on routine patrol at about 12:34 a.m. when he spotted a Kia with no license plate or temporary registration tag. Police said the vehicle had a broken window and matched the description of a car that fled from a traffic stop earlier in the week.
When the officer turned to observe the vehicle, police said the driver noticed the patrol car and immediately ran a red light. Officer Blanco activated his emergency equipment while traveling eastbound on Willis Street near the SR 167 on ramps, with the Kia directly in front of him.
Police said the driver swerved, appeared to pull over and then accelerated again, straddling lanes and braking abruptly. There was no traffic in the immediate roadway area except for other responding police vehicles, according to the department.
The Kia then slowed and intentionally drove into the side of the patrol vehicle, police said. Additional officers entering the area were visible to the suspect at the time.
Officers stopped the vehicle and took the driver and a passenger into custody without further incident.
During a post-Miranda interview, the driver told officers he saw the Kia parked with a broken window and decided to take it, according to police. He claimed the passenger was not with him when he took the vehicle.
The driver had a $35,000 King County warrant for possession of a stolen vehicle, hit and run, and two counts of reckless driving, police said. He was booked into the King County Jail for possession of a stolen vehicle, vehicle theft and the outstanding warrant.
Police said the driver also admitted to having methamphetamine in the vehicle. The car was impounded pending authorization of a search warrant.
The passenger, a 50-year-old Kent woman, had more than $10,000 in Kent warrants and was transported to jail. Police said she told officers she was scared during the incident.
The officer was not injured. However, the patrol vehicle sustained damage.
