Man Sought For Ramming Police Car Spirit Lake Officer Nearly Run Down By Truck

Police are searching for a Washington fugitive who tried to run over one police officer and then rammed his truck into another officer’s patrol car, according to Idaho State Police.

Judge John Luster issued a $150,000 arrest warrant Wednesday for Benjamin Lee Thomas, 32, of Bellingham, Wash.

He is wanted on two counts of assaulting a police officer and one count of eluding an officer after a high speed chase Tuesday night.

At about 11 p.m., Spirit Lake Police officer Joe Jovick was called to a report of a disturbance on Main Street in Spirit Lake.

The officer asked Thomas for his identification. But Thomas ran away after Jovick discovered he was wanted on a grand theft arrest warrant in Washington, said ISP Cpl. Phil Broesch. Thomas was using a false ID, he added.

Thomas ran to his truck and drove straight at Officer Jovick, according to an ISP report. Jovick ran down the sidewalk to avoid being hit by the truck, which came within three feet of him, Broesch said.

Broesch, who was nearby in his patrol car, tried to block Thomas off as he drove the truck onto Third Street. But Thomas rammed his truck into the back end of the patrol car.

“It was a pretty severe jolt,” Broesch said.

The car is still drivable; damage was estimated at $1,300.

Thomas sped past the officer and headed through Athol to Farragut State Park. Broesch followed him, driving up to 90 mph.

Thomas drove his truck into a field, left his vehicle and disappeared into the woods on foot, Broesch said.

Officers from the ISP and Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department searched the heavy brush and timber but were not able to find the fugitive.

Police describe Thomas as a white male, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and 170 pounds. He has brown hair and a moustache.

Anyone with information on Thomas’ whereabouts is asked to call ISP at (208) 772-8585.