RENTON, Wash. — Renton police released body camera footage this week showing an intense pursuit that involved a suspect ramming multiple patrol vehicles and nearly flipping their vehicle against a fence Tuesday night.
The Renton Police Department said a 39-year-old Des Moines man is in custody after he was first found passed out in the driver's seat of his vehicle at the intersection of SE Petrovistsky Road and 108th Avenue SE. The officers put spike strips under his tires and then attempted to wake him.
The man hit the accelerator, rammed into a patrol car, and sped away on flat tires. Shortly after first fleeing officers, the suspect took down part of a fence and nearly flipped over as the car went up in the air on two tires. The suspect again managed to drive around officers and got away from multiple officers.
Just a few minutes later, the suspect again crashed and was taken into custody. When officers contacted the suspect, they said they found 22 fentanyl pills that had fallen out of the suspect's pocket and drug paraphernalia was found inside the vehicle.
“This case emphasizes how incredibly dangerous it is when people choose to drive under the influence,” said Chief Jon Schuldt in a press release. “We take that risk very seriously, as well as our duty to keep the public safe. I’m thankful no one was injured in the incident.”
The suspect was arrested on suspicion of eluding police, DUI, hit-and-run and reckless driving.