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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels

Cops’ crash damages 5th car in 2 weeks

Two patrol cars were damaged in a chase over the weekend - the fourth and fifth police cruisers taken out of service in the last two weeks.

The latest crash occurred when Spokane Valley police Officers Scott Bonney and Todd Miller slammed into each other while pursuing a suspect. Two other officers had tried to stop a Honda Prelude about 2:30 a.m. on Saturday when the driver, Jason Edward Cooper, 25, sped away and ran stop signs and red lights, said Sgt. Dave Reagan.

Bonney and Miller may have been going to put down spike strips when they collided in the intersection at Sprague Avenue and Bowdish Road, Reagan said, damaging their cars, a light pole and a fire hydrant. Bonney was not hurt but Miller suffered minor cuts from broken glass.

Cooper was arrested, but a passenger in his car escaped. Anyone with information about the passenger's identity is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.

The crash came one week after Deputy Matt Spink's patrol car was totaled as he responded to an assault call at Hawthrone Road on Highway 2. Motorist Judith Ann Vanderbosch, 71, of Mead, was cited for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.

Six days before that crash, a sheriff's patrol car was destroyed after crashing into a truck driven by a retired sheriff's sergeant, who was cited for failure to yield.



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