Police Catch Drug Suspect After Chase

A suspected drug offender led Spokane police on a brief chase Wednesday night before fleeing on foot and tripping head-first into a waiting patrol car.

The man, whose identify was withheld, was treated and released at Sacred Heart Medical Center.

The chase began about 8 p.m., when a stolen pickup truck with Montana plates was spotted outside a house near South Arthur.

Police said the house was under surveillance by narcotics officers.

When the suspect left the house and drove away in the truck, police signaled him to pull over.

Instead, the driver attempted to elude officers, turning into the parking lot of the state Employment Security building at 130 S. Arthur just south of Second Avenue, Sgt. Scott Mullenix said.

There, the driver rammed a parked car and a fence. He then tried to escape on foot, Mullenix said.

Building employee Mike Forrester was on the second floor eating a meal when he heard the commotion.

“I heard sirens and screaming wheels, and then I looked out the window and saw the truck smashed into the fence,” he said.

The suspect hurdled the hood of one patrol car, lost his balance and struck the crash bar on the front of a second, stationary patrol car.

Police said they searched the truck and found what appeared to be cocaine. , DataTimes