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

Man Charged Following High-Speed Chase In Stolen Car

A 19-year-old man was charged Wednesday with leading police on a high-speed chase through Colville and Kettle Falls in a stolen car.

Raven Brealan, who was living temporarily in Inchelium, Wash., was charged in Stevens County Superior Court with vehicle theft, attempting to elude police, drunken driving and reckless driving.

He remained in the county jail Wednesday and is to be arraigned Friday.

Deputy Prosecutor Darla Copeland Grose said in a court document that the 13-1/2-mile chase began Saturday morning, just after midnight.

Copeland Grose said Brealan was driving a 1989 Cadillac that was stolen late Friday from the parking lot of the American Legion hall in Chewelah, 26 miles south of Colville.

Washington State Patrol trooper Steve Groh didn’t know the northbound car was stolen when he attempted to stop it just south of Colville because the driver refused to dim his headlights. The car accelerated through Colville at 60 to 70 mph, Groh reported.

Two Colville police officers joined the chase, which reached speeds up to 90 mph. The officers reported Brealan was driving in both lanes and almost hit an oncoming car.

Police put tire-flattening spikes on U.S. Highway 395 two miles east of Kettle Falls. They said Brealan slowed to 40 to 50 mph and continued through Kettle Falls with sparks flying from his left front wheel.

On the other side of town, Brealan turned onto a side road and continued a half-mile before abandoning the Cadillac and fleeing into thick brush, Copeland Grose said in the court document.

She said several officers gave chase on foot and Colville police officer Dan Clarkson caught Brealan.

The officers reported Brealan appeared to pass out soon after he was placed in a patrol car. They said he was uncooperative, had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and needed help standing when he was booked into the jail.

Officers also reported Brealan became combative at the jail, Copeland Grose said.

, DataTimes