Passenger Caught, Driver Flees In High-Speed Chase

Sheriff’s deputies are looking for a teenager who led them on a high-speed chase through the Valley early Monday morning before jumping in the Spokane River.

Deputies began following a red 1991 Honda Civic at about 2:40 a.m. Monday when it turned east onto Mission Avenue from Pines Road without signaling, sheriff’s officials said. Instead of pulling over, the driver sped up, eventually reaching speeds of 80 mph.

The driver ignored stop signs and signal lights as he turned south onto Best, west onto Desmet, north onto Evergreen, west onto Mission and north again onto Pines.

The car slid into the center median at Mission and Pines, weaved between vehicles and finally turned east on Euclid, deputies said. It stopped in an open field and two males got out and began running away on foot.

Deputies captured the passenger, a 15-year-old Spokane boy. He was arrested for taking a motor vehicle without the owner’s permission, sheriff’s officials said.

The driver ran east on the Centennial Trail, then headed through the trees toward the river. A deputy followed in the dark, but lost the suspect. He heard a splash and assumed the man jumped in the river.

A canine unit attempted to track the suspect, but lost the scent, deputies said. The man’s hat was found in the brush.

Deputies described the suspect as 16 to 18 years old, about 5-foot10 with brown hair and a blue and white Adidas jacket.

Anyone with information should call Crime Check at 456-2233.