Men Held After Fleeing From Police Two Separate Car Chases Lead To Three Arrests

One man rammed a patrol car and another attacked an officer during two separate attempts to escape Spokane police ending in arrest Friday.

About 10:15 a.m., police tried to stop a car near Post and Riverside after the driver ran a red light, said police spokesman Dick Cottam.

The officer turned on his lights and sirens, but the driver refused to stop. The chase ended on Spokane Falls Boulevard when the driver’s car slammed into the patrol car.

The driver, later identified as Sean Paul Schmidt, 19, a transient, ran from the scene.

An off-duty police officer from Whitefish, Mont., saw the chase and tackled Schmidt. Officers found a double-edged knife on Schmidt and discovered the car he’d been driving was stolen, Cottam said.

Schmidt was booked into Spokane County Jail on second degree assault, possession of stolen property, attempting to elude and possession of a dangerous weapon.

Schmidt is being held in lieu of $5,500 bond. Two juveniles with Schmidt were booked on possession of stolen property.

About 11:30 p.m., police saw a car driving on the wrong side of Wellesley. The driver took off when he saw the patrol car’s lights, Cottam said. The driver ran several stop signs, forced half a dozen vehicles off the streets and reached speeds of more than 60 mph.

The chase ended when the driver, later identified as Robert L. Sheppard, 20, of 2727 E. 53rd, drove through Franklin Park and stopped at Whitehouse and Everett.

Sheppard ran from the car.

A passenger, Aaron C. Ermine, 20, of 2824 E. Wabash, was cited for resisting arrest after authorities said he attacked an officer.

Sheppard was arrested after a police dog and handler tracked him into a back yard near Franklin Court.

Sheppard suffered several bites after trying to fight with the dog.

He was booked into the Spokane County Jail on attempting to elude and is being held in lieu of $2,000 bond.