Car chase suspect booked on theft, robbery charges

A Spokane man led Spokane Valley police on a wild chase that saw a television stolen, a car crashed, another car stolen and an officer tackling a suspect.

Eric Tad Brown, 41, of 3708 E. 15th Ave., took a Nissan Pulsar that was for sale on a test drive Tuesday afternoon, said Spokane Valley Police spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan.

He ended up leaving for quite a while.

His first stop was at the Home Depot store on East Sprague Avenue, where employees said he took two televisions out to the Nissan without paying for them.

When an employee confronted him, he became aggressive, threw one of the televisions in the Nissan and then sped away. An employee pursued him but gave up the chase as the man entered Spokane, Reagan said.

Later, an officer spotted the Nissan at a house at 14th Avenue and Lloyd Street. A witness said they saw Brown walk to another home.

As officers approached that home, Brown drove up in a white car with a female passenger, Reagan said.

As soon as he saw officers, he sped away. He entered the intersection of 14th Avenue and Carnahan Road too quickly and crashed. He got out of the car and ran into the woods.

He soon reappeared but this time tried to escape in the bed of a pickup. An officer stopped the truck and Brown tried to sprint away, Reagan said.

This time, Sgt. Wes Eylar stopped Brown with a swift tackle.

Brown was booked into the Spokane County Jail on two felony charges and two misdemeanor charges, including theft, robbery, reckless driving and obstructing a police officer.