Deputy bruises ribs in car chase with teens

A Spokane County Sheriff’s deputy suffered minor injuries early today when two teens rammed his patrol car with a stolen Jeep after sideswiping a house, authorities say. Deputy Rob Satake was responding to a report of suspected vehicle prowling near 7000 North Stevens Street about 1:20 a.m. when he spotted a Jeep Cherokee dragging something. The Jeep turned south on Whitehouse, then ran a stop sign at Lyons when Satake activated his car’s emergency lights. The Jeep continued south to Francis, spinning out of control and taking out about 75 feet of fence before sideswiping a house, then clipping Satake’s patrol car, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The Jeep hit the side of the cruiser before the driver and his passenger jumped out and ran. Satake was later treated and released at a hospital for bruised ribs. But first, he found the driver, identified as 19-year-old River E. Hewson, in the 6200 block of North Washington, holding two prescription pill bottles, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The passenger, identified as a 14-year-old boy, was located a few blocks away by Spokane police. The Jeep’s owner said he parked it in the 5300 block of North Stevens about 11:30 p.m. Deputies found a sleeping bag, jacket and camping equipment stolen from the Jeep in a yard in the 6500 block of North Stevens. They believe the teens had been dragging the items from the Jeep when Satake spotted them. Hewson was booked into Spokane County Jail on charges of theft of a motor vehicle, attempting to elude police, second-degree assault, misdemeanor hit and run and two counts of unlawful possession of a legend drug. The 14-year-old was taken to a hospital after complaining of a sore knee, then booked into juvenile detention on one count of theft of a motor vehicle. The teens also are suspected of two car prowlings in the same area that night.