WSP: Missing Child Rescued After Multi-County Pursuit

BELLEVUE, WA — Troopers successfully rescued a young girl after a police chase spanning three counties Tuesday night, according to the Washington State Patrol. WSP said the person driving the truck, a 26-year-old Stanwood man, was the girl's father and had taken her from her mother's home in New Mexico, in violation of a protection order.

A trooper first pulled the truck over for speeding near Interstate 405 and State Route 520 shortly before 6:30 p.m. WSP said the trooper saw the girl in the back seat and asked the driver for identification. While confirming the man's identity from the patrol car, the trooper discovered the protection order.

The trooper said the truck then sped away, beginning a pursuit onto northbound I-405 to northbound I-5. The chase continued into Snohomish County, where the truck hit a trailer and continued driving.

According to WSP, the pursuit moved onto county roads, eventually ending after spike strips and a successful PIT maneuver near Cedardale Road and Starbird Road in Skagit County.

Troopers said the man was arrested without incident and the girl was unharmed. WSP made contact with her mother, then released the girl her grandmother, who lives in Washington.

The driver, identified by WSP as Mauricio A Nava-Tapia, was booked into Snohomish County Jail on suspicion of felony eluding, reckless endangerment, reckless driving and hit-and run.

WSP said the pursuit covered 52 miles over three counties.