Felon arrested after wrong-way freeway chase

Spokane County sheriff’s deputies arrested a 23-time convicted felon after a lengthy police chase through the city and Interstate 90 this morning. According to a release, a deputy spotted 47-year-old Gregory Kroetch driving a stolen vehicle at 10:50 a.m. and tried to pull him over. Kroetch entered I-90 near Pines Road on the eastbound ramp going the wrong direction. He exited at Broadway, then traveled east on Broadway Avenue and exited at Argonne Road. Deputies tried to block in his vehicle but he entered the freeway again and headed west toward the city. Units from Washington State Patrol picked up the pursuit as Kroetch got off the freeway at Highway 195 and headed south in the northbound lanes of traffic, the release said. Patrol used spike strips near 16th Avenue and Highway 195 and apprehended Kroetch on foot near 14th Avenue and South Loop Road. The release said Kroetch, who has 23 felony convictions, faces several felony charges, and additional charges are pending on a separate investigation of identity and mail theft from the sheriff’s office.