Vehicle theft suspect arrested after police pursuit ends in Maytown

In the early hours of April 25, Thurston County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) received a call regarding a suspicious vehicle obstructing a roadway in Maytown.

According to the TCSO news release, dispatch informed TCSO that the truck in question had been reported stolen out of Puyallup after running the vehicle's license plate.

Deputies responded to the scene but initially couldn't locate the stolen truck.

However, a deputy spotted the truck at the Pilot Station in Tumwater, and a “male suspect walked out of the Pilot with Cinnabon, got into the truck, and fled when the deputy attempted to stop him.”

Ignoring commands to halt, the suspect jumped into the stolen truck and sped away, prompting the deputy to initiate a pursuit.

“Deputies terminated the pursuit as stolen cars cannot be pursued under current state law,” TCSO pointed out.

“One deputy continued to follow the truck from a distance without their emergency lights on while Tumwater Police Department (TPD) officers set up spikes,” TCSO stated.

The suspect's attempt to evade capture ended as the truck was spiked, causing it to crash in an attempt to re-enter Interstate 5.

The suspect escaped the vehicle, and a foot chase ensued.

TPD K9 James assisted in the chase and located the suspect, who had concealed himself in nearby bushes.

“He (the suspect) claimed to have swallowed fentanyl during the pursuit, a tactic often used to avoid being booked into jail,” TCSO stated.

Following medical clearance at the hospital, the suspect was transported and booked into the TCSO jail for multiple charges, including an attempt to elude and possession of a stolen vehicle.

During the investigation, it was discovered that the suspect also had outstanding warrants, one in Thurston County for possessing a stolen vehicle and another in Pierce County for felony retail theft.