Police chase ends with repeat offender’s arrest

A man accused of leading police on a chase from Spokane to Post Falls early Wednesday was arrested in March 2008 after a similar pursuit.

John D. Rovik, 29, was sentenced to 120 days in jail for attempting to elude a police officer last year.

About 4:15 a.m. Wednesday, Spokane police spotted a 2002 Buick Century driving erratically near Crestline Street and Sprague Avenue and chased the car onto Interstate 90, where Spokane County sheriff’s deputies used a spike strip to flatten the tires.

The driver, whom police identified as Rovik, exited the freeway in Post Falls and stopped after police hit the car’s rear end and forced it into a spin, stopping the chase.

Rovik was booked into Kootenai County Jail on charges of attempting to elude and unlawful imprisonment. Rovik’s last arrest was in August on suspicion of vehicle theft. Court records show he was sentenced to four months in jail in October with credit for 65 days served after pleading guilty to attempting to elude a police vehicle.

Rovik’s other criminal convictions include six counts of possession of stolen property.