Sheriff’s ‘copter helps catch fleeing driver
A motorist who tailed a Spokane County sheriff's patrol car at speeds up to 90 mph was arrested after being tracked by the Air-1 helicopter, officials said Monday.
Sergey A. Alekseyev, 19, was arrested after sheriff's Air-1 tracked 1996 Honda Accord he was driving from northbound Freya Street to the 5800 block of Yale Road, the sheriff's office said.
The 24-minute pursuit began just after midnight Saturday when Alekseyev allegedly sped up behind Cp.l Dave Ellis in the 1800 block of Greene Sreet, then refused to stop and sped away on Illinois Avenue at about 60 mph.
Ellis and another driver had to brake and swerve to avoid a crash, and the helicopter joined the pursuit around Freya Street. The Honda turned its headlights off while northbound on Florida, and Ellis terminated the pursuit while the helicopter continued the pursuit.
Ellis caught up the Honda after it drove south near Spokane Community College and popped its passenger-side tires on spike strops.
The car continued to drive on its rims before Deputy Daryl Smith used a PIT maneuver to stop it on Yale Road, and Alexkeyev was arrested.