Two Valley officers hurt, two patrol cars wrecked in high-chase

Two Spokane Valley police officers were injured and two patrol cars were damaged in a high-speed pursuit early Saturday.

Officers Jeffrey Rogers and Jason Karnitz tried to stop a Honda Prelude about 2:30 a.m., but the driver, Jason Edward Cooper, 25, took off at high speeds and ran several stop signs and red lights, said department spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan.

Officers Scott Bonney and Todd Miller may have been going to put down spike strips when they collided in the intersection at Sprague Avenue and Bowdish Road, Reagan said. The cars were significantly damaged, he said, as were a light pole and fire hydrant. They are the fourth and fifth patrol cars damaged in Spokane County in the past two weeks.

Bonney was not hurt in the crash but Miller suffered minor cuts from broken glass.

Reagan said the pursuit started near Vista Road and Broadway Avenue and ended in Liberty Lake, where Cooper crashed after reaching 70 mph on tires flattened by spike strips.

Cooper then took off on foot. He ran over the top of an embankment but was caught by Rogers, who hurt his knee during the pursuit.

Cooper was booked into Spokane County Jail for vehicular assault, attempting to elude a police vehicle, resisting arrest and second-degree driving with a suspended license, Reagan said.

A passenger in Cooper’s car got away. Police are asking anyone with information about the passenger’s identity to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.