Driver shocked with Taser after Valley police chase

An intoxicated driver was shocked with a Taser this morning after a high-speed police chase that ended with his SUV slamming through an iron fence and striking a carport at a Spokane Valley apartment complex. David M. Britt, 21, nearly struck a police car when he passed through the intersection of East Sprague Avenue and North McDonald Road in a Chevrolet Tahoe at 60 to 70 mph in the 35 mph zone, according to the Spokane Valley Police Department. Cpl. Darin Staley and Officer Rustin Olson tried to stop the Tahoe, but it continued to accelerate northbound on McDonald before smashing into a street signal light at Mission Avenue and McDonald, pulling downing power lines. Britt then smashed through the fence at the Whimsical Pig Apartments, 13303 E. Mission, and rear ended an F-250 Pickup, police said. The force of the Tahoe moved a large granite boulder 200 feet. The Tahoe was empty when police approached, but a witness pointed to a man with a bloody face and said “that’s him!”, according to a news release. Britt was shocked with a Taser after refusing orders to get on his knees and put his hands up. Britt smelled heavily of alcohol and admitted to using cocaine, police said. He was taken to a hospital for injuries sustained in the crash. He faces charges of driving while intoxicated and reckless driving. “It should be noted that Britt also told authorities the Tahoe was a rental vehicle,” Cpl. Dave Thornburg said in a news release. “Apparently, he had crashed his own truck only a few days earlier into a tree while high on cocaine.”