Thurston Sheriff's Arrest Suspect for 98th Time After Car Chase

There are repeat offenders… and then there are stories like this that SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN.

Get our free mobile app

The Thurston County Sheriff's Office arrested a convicted felon tied to organized retail theft. He is back in jail, for the 98th time, after a wild series of events that stretched from the freeway into neighborhood streets. Yes, the male suspect had been arrested 98 times before.

Credit Sheriff Sanders via Facebook

Thurston County Sheriff's Chase Suspect, I-5 to Downtown Olympia

Sheriff Derek Sanders with the department released the dash cam footage. The video starts after deputies got a heads-up about two suspects heading north on I-5. The pair had reportedly stolen from multiple stores, even using stolen bags from one location to steal from another.

A deputy spotted their white truck near Olympia, but before the lights were even activated, the driver took off. The video shows a dangerous chase weaving through city streets, blowing through intersections with red lights, and reaching high speeds in traffic.

Deputies attempted a PIT maneuver early on, but it didn’t work, and after 8 minutes with the suspect driving recklessly, they made the call to terminate the pursuit for safety.

Credit Sheriff Sanders via Facebook

High Speed Chase Ends, Truck Abandoned, and K-9 Tracking Begins

Not long after, the truck was found abandoned near Lacey, and things shifted from wheels to feet. A K-9 unit picked up the trail, tracking the suspects through a neighborhood and toward an elementary school.

Deputies soon spotted both individuals walking nearby and took them into custody without incident.

Get our free mobile app

Inside the truck? Thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise, along with meth, heroin, and fentanyl. The strangest part is that investigators said the driver had a custom-built bong device installed right into the dashboard.

The suspect, already a four-time convicted felon with dozens of convictions, now faces charges including DUI, eluding, and drug possession.