Carjacking, chase end with two arrests

Two carjacking suspects were arrested at about 4 a.m. Sunday after they allegedly stole a taxi and led police on a chase that damaged three police vehicles.

Jeremy M. Gleese, 20, of Coeur d’Alene, and his 17-year-old companion were in custody after they allegedly stole the taxi minivan at knifepoint, Spokane police officer William Hager said in a news release.

The two suspects had summoned the taxi in Post Falls for a ride to Spokane, Hager said. After arriving at an alley in the 1600 block of east First Avenue, the suspects pulled a knife on the driver, a woman in her 40s, and took her cell phone and money, Hager said. The victim called police from a nearby home at 3:40 a.m.

Officers soon spotted the stolen taxi and followed it east on Trent Avenue at speeds reaching 50 mph to 65 mph, Hager said.

Spokane County sheriff’s deputies joined in the chase as the minivan’s driver turned south on Vista. The taxi’s driver dodged a railroad crossing as a train was approaching, then slammed into a sheriff’s cruiser, Hager said.

Two other officers used their cars to box in the taxi, causing minor damage to their vehicles.

The 17-year-old passenger fled on foot but was captured about two blocks away.

The driver was taken into custody and booked on a number of charges, including robbery, drug possession, assault, vehicle theft and attempting to elude a police officer, said Spokane police officer Jennifer DeRuwe.

The teen was booked into the Spokane County Juvenile Detention Center.

The money, phone and knife were recovered, Hager said.