Spokane Valley police arrest man they say drove recklessly after pursuit during snowstorm

Spokane Valley police arrested a 33-year-old man on suspicion of driving recklessly early Wednesday morning after a pursuit and PIT maneuver as it snowed in the area.

Deputy Nathan Booth first observed a black Infinity, driven by Kenney L. Rustad, traveling above the speed limit and too fast for the road conditions at about 12:45 a.m., according to a news release. A license plate search revealed the plate expired in 2018 and showed a business as the registered owner.

When the deputy stopped Rustad’s vehicle and approached the driver’s side, the car accelerated and Booth ran back to his patrol vehicle, the release said. The vehicle drove recklessly to evade the deputy in pursuit, according to police.

Another deputy spotted the vehicle driving at high speeds on University Road after Booth stopped his pursuit near Felts Road and Mission Avenue for safety reasons, according to a news release.

The vehicle did not stop at a red light and crossed into oncoming lanes while a deputy blocked the intersection to cross traffic, according to a news release. One of the vehicle’s tires started to deflate after driving over spike strips at 4th Avenue and Bowdish Road.

To end the pursuit, a deputy initiated a PIT maneuver, where a patrol car makes contact with the rear of another vehicle to send it into a spin and disable it. But Rustad’s vehicle swerved into the deputy’s car and forced him to slam on his brakes, according to a news release.

When Rustad’s vehicle slammed into the patrol car’s bumper, the deputy maintained contact to spin and stall the other vehicle.

Rustad was arrested without further incident and a passenger in the car was released without charges, according to a news release.

A deputy seized a bag of suspected methamphetamine on the driver’s seat, but no drug-related charges have been filed pending a search warrant.

Rustad’s passenger said he fled from police due to a Department of Corrections warrant for escaping from community custody, the release said. His original charge was related to drug possession.

Rustad was booked into Spokane County on charges of attempting to elude police and reckless endangerment. His bail had not been set as of Wednesday night.