A DUI suspect snoozing at a gas station got a rude awakening and a deflated tire when Seattle cops used a "Terminator" device to thwart his attempted getaway, authorities said. Officers discovered the drugged-up driver and his vehicle—littered with drug gear and sporting a key in the ignition—at a gas station during a routine patrol, as reported by the Seattle Police Department's blog.
The officers eyed the paraphernalia and deduced potential opioid abuse, a situation ripe with the chance the man might bolt. So they preemptively positioned the Terminator, a tire deflation tool, before jolting the occupants awake with knocks on the window. They clearly warned, not to flee or risk a punctured tire.
Despite police's loud warnings, the driver peeled off, only to be stopped short by the punctured tire courtesy of the Terminator. Officers found the disabled vehicle on 43rd Street Avenue South, stranded because of a tow truck.
When the cops closed in, the suspect and his companions tried to dash, leading to a short-lived but frenetic foot race. Cops managed to snag the 33-year-old male driver; meanwhile, his cohorts were caught nearby. This info came to light due to the SPD's official communication.
It turned out the car was hot—reported stolen—and carried more narcotics alongside the paraphernalia. The driver bagged charges for eluding a police vehicle, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, and DUI and got a ride straight to the King County Jail. His passengers got off lighter—identified and let go at the scene.
