Spokane7
68°
May 24, 2011 in City
Driver shocked with Taser after Valley police chase
An intoxicated driver was shocked with a Taser this morning after a high-speed police chase that ended with his SUV slamming through an iron fence and striking a carport at a Spokane Valley apartment complex.
David M. Britt, 21, nearly struck a police car when he passed through the intersection of East Sprague Avenue and North McDonald Road in a Chevrolet Tahoe at 60 to 70 mph in the 35 mph zone, according to the Spokane Valley Police Department.
Cpl. Darin Staley and Officer Rustin Olson tried to stop the Tahoe, but it continued to accelerate northbound on McDonald before smashing into a street signal light at Mission Avenue and McDonald, pulling downing power lines.
Britt then smashed through the fence at the Whimsical Pig Apartments, 13303 E. Mission, and rear ended an F-250 Pickup, police said. The force of the Tahoe moved a large granite boulder 200 feet.
The Tahoe was empty when police approached, but a witness pointed to a man with a bloody face and said “that’s him!”, according to a news release.
Britt was shocked with a Taser after refusing orders to get on his knees and put his hands up.
Britt smelled heavily of alcohol and admitted to using cocaine, police said. He was taken to a hospital for injuries sustained in the crash. He faces charges of driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.
“It should be noted that Britt also told authorities the Tahoe was a rental vehicle,” Cpl. Dave Thornburg said in a news release. “Apparently, he had crashed his own truck only a few days earlier into a tree while high on cocaine.”
1992 murder trial begins against sex offender 
monkeyman on May 24 at 2:15 p.m.
…me thinks he wanted to die, after failing to do so on May 21st.
rpmarp on May 24 at 3:20 p.m.
Speed limit on McDonald is 30mph.
reservedparking on May 24 at 3:29 p.m.
Speed limit on McDonald, Sprague to Mission is 35. Not 30. Not 25.
Sadbuttrue on May 24 at 3:37 p.m.
We can be thankful the cops have stopped killing everyone.
ginniet on May 24 at 3:48 p.m.
It sounds like he wants to win a Darwin award! Maybe he’ll be successful the next time; I just hope he doesn’t take someone out along with him!
johnclarke on May 24 at 3:48 p.m.
oooh I hope he had optional operating a rental car high on cocaine insurance.
DickAdams on May 24 at 3:59 p.m.
Law enforcement is not serious when it comes to DUI driving or else, looking at the statistics, how many drivers are under the influence and get by with the crime. Where I come from, Minnesota, they have traffic pull overs to check and see if a person has been drinking. I know many drivers object to being stopped if they haven`t been drinking, but something must be done. Look at all the people who have been killed lately because of alcohol. Too many LE just verbally warn drivers instead of arresting them. Drivers must know there is a consequence drinking and driving.
Common_Sense on May 24 at 4:23 p.m.
DickAdams, I too am from Minnesota and I know what you’re talking about. I think overall though, any state is too lenient in DUI offenders, one offense, two offense, etc. After several offenses, most are still behind the wheel, even weeks after an offense.
Al_Loysius on May 24 at 5:00 p.m.
Dick & Common,
Washington used to use random DUI checkpoints many decades ago. However, the State Supreme Court disallowed the practice as being violative of the Washington Constitution. Some states still allow it, depending on how their individual state courts interpret their state constitutional provisions. I am not saying that is good or bad, just reporting history.
tomnsahl on May 24 at 6:27 p.m.
Dick & anyone else who wants to re-create a State they left … please go back to MN, where Jesse Ventura was elected as Governor !!! … lol - REALLY … lol
Great job SCSO …chasing down an impaired driver and using the force necessary to overcome resistance AND ensure that our community is safer.
Orange on May 24 at 6:37 p.m.
Those from MN, welcome to WA. I too agree with the random stopping of motorists to check sobriety. Some of our “professional alcoholics” evade being pulled over way too much. Those that disagree? I too feel we’re too lenient with drunk drivers. Ask any victim of a drunk driver. Too many innocent lives are lost from driving drunk.
Back to the story, Dep Staley and Off Olson, good job.
lewis8457 on May 24 at 7:34 p.m.
Good job to the police for not shooting him, thank you we don’t all have to witness another one sided police investigation we get to pay for.
lewis8457 on May 24 at 7:41 p.m.
Dick honestly i think we would have more citizens killed if we had random pull overs here. Most people here are armed and fear the police. Two deadly combinations.
More then half of all our cops are drunks, can we stop them and see if they are sober? Heck we see cops driving drunk all the time. Quite a example they are setting.
If this kid was stoned on weed he would have been home playing video games.
monkeyman on May 24 at 9:27 p.m.
…still waiting for the article to mention what time of the “morning” did this incident take place…like 2am , or 8am when there are many more people around on the roads.
Common_Sense on May 24 at 9:53 p.m.
Lewis, you cite claims which I dispute. Please back up your opinion with with data to support your “facts” or are these just statements proported as fact though it is pure speculation (garbage)?
hamrsrscarry on May 24 at 11:56 p.m.
Wow. Cops abuse a hot pursuit suspect. Dog bites man. Story at 11.
This is the game. Run from the cops and smash crap and put everyone’s life at risk you get a whompin’ when and if Johnny Law gets his steroid pumped hands on you. Taser is probably better than a face grinding into the gravel with a 250 lb cop’s knee in the base of your skull, so consider this cocaine cowboy lucky.
I have no problem with this.
hamrsrscarry on May 24 at 11:58 p.m.
By the way, most every scofflaw lead footing a run from cops knows he’s gonna get stomped when caught. They love the thrill of the chase more than the cops do.