Stolen Car Leads Deputies On Chase

PIERCE COUNTY, WA — Deputies have arrested an 18-year-old man who they say led officers on a chase in a stolen vehicle.

Deputies say just before 2 a.m. Wednesday morning, one of their K9 deputies was on patrol when he noticed a car that had been reported stolen. The Sheriff's Department says the car, a red Ford Mustang, had been stolen just four hours before from a Tacoma home.

The patrolling deputy spotted the car at smoke shop near the intersection of 72nd and Canyon Road E in the Waller area. But when the deputy tried to pull the car over, it took off, speeding over 70 miles an hour down 72nd street.

After chasing the car up to 140th, deputies say they managed to use stop sticks to pop one of the Mustang's tires. Eight blocks later and it ran over a second set of sticks, losing one of its tires completely, but deputies say that didn't stop it and the car continued to speed down the road even as smoke started pouring from the engine.

Eventually the car ran into a dead end on 164th, and deputies rounded up the driver and three passengers. The Sheriff's Department reports that the 18-year-old driver has been booked into Pierce County Jail on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle, felony eluding, and driving with a suspended license. The three passengers, a 19 year old woman, 19 year old man and 17 year old boy were all allowed to return home.