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

Bail set at $1 million for suspect in police chase

William E. Pfaff looked almost bored Monday as Magistrate Judge Robert Burton read off the litany of charges against him.

Burglary, malicious injury to property, robbery, possession of stolen property, eluding a police officer, grand theft, and assault or battery on a peace officer make up most of the 21 separate felony counts Burton read off to the 36-year-old Pfaff, who leaned on his hand during Monday’s video arraignment, tapped his fingers and toyed with a small notepad.

Pfaff, a Spokane resident, is accused of racking up all those charges Saturday during an hour and a half crime spree and chase through Coeur d’Alene, Dalton Gardens and Huetter. He allegedly drove four stolen vehicles, crashed into several fences and parked cars, and narrowly missed injuring bystanders.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Blake Swenson said Pfaff “poses an extreme danger to the public … No less than 100 lives were in danger during his spree. There were children at risk as he drove through back yards and on the street.”

Swenson requested bail set at $10 million, but instead Burton set it at $1 million.

“That’s understandable,” Pfaff told the judge. Then he asked, “That’s bondable?”

When Burton responded that it was, the unfazed Pfaff wished him a nice day.

Pfaff, whose alias is William E. Martin, is no stranger to court proceedings. In his request for a high bail, Swenson read from a lengthy rap sheet dating back to 1987 that included drug charges, burglary and more eluding incidents, all in Washington.

Pfaff pleaded guilty to several charges in 2002 when he was fished from the Spokane River after a similar crime spree through Spokane. Pfaff hit an officer’s car during that chase, which ended when he high-centered the car he was driving on the Centennial Trail. A Spokane Valley firefighter rescued Pfaff from the frigid river after he jumped in while trying to escape police, according to earlier reports.

Saturday’s chase began with the report of shoplifting from D&B Farm and Home on Kathleen Avenue. The suspect was next sighted at Fred Meyer, where he was allegedly stealing a truck from a shopper.

Police had weapons drawn and ordered him out of the truck when he drove off in the direction of one of the officers, according to police. The officer was able to get out of the way.

For the next hour, police got numerous calls from witnesses saying that Pfaff caused traffic accidents and was driving through neighborhood yards and fences, according to Coeur d’Alene Police. Police chased the suspect a couple of times, only to give up the pursuit for safety reasons.

The suspect drove through a locked gate at the Coeur d’Alene High School and a Federal Express security gate next door to the Coeur d’Alene Police Department. He jumped the fence to the Kootenai County Landfill and stole a county landfill truck, which citizens later reported seeing driving eastbound on the Centennial Trail near Huetter, according to police.

Police say they arrested Pfaff after crashing the fourth stolen truck near railroad tracks just east of Post Falls.

Coeur d’Alene Police Sgt. Christie Wood said police have identified at least 13 victims, took 15 reports from various citizens and tallied up about $11,000 worth of damage to fences, cars and other property.