A 52-year-old man is facing a pile of charges after deputies say a late-night traffic stop in Graham turned into a brief chase, a crash into a patrol car and a stolen pickup packed with a loaded gun and meth on March 10.
Deputies Say Routine Stop Turned Into Safeway Lot Showdown
Graveyard-shift deputies reported spotting a pickup that matched a stolen vehicle rolling into the Safeway parking lot near 116th Street E and Canyon Road E. When they tried to pull it over, the driver first appeared to play along, then suddenly took off northbound on Canyon Road E, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office.
The short pursuit ended in a collision near 200th Street E and Orting-Kapowsin Highway E, where two patrol vehicles were left with what deputies described as moderate damage, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office.
Search Turns Up Gun, Meth and a Long Charge Sheet
After serving a search warrant on the pickup, deputies say they found a loaded revolver and two small baggies of methamphetamine inside. They also noted that the driver “smelled strongly of intoxicants,” according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office.
In a bit of blunt commentary, the sheriff's office summed up the case with the caption: “Steal Car, Go to Jail.” The 52-year-old is now facing alleged counts including felony eluding, second-degree assault for crashing into a patrol vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, unlawful possession of a firearm, DUI, driving while license suspended (third degree) and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office.
How This Fits Into Local Patrol Patterns
Stolen-vehicle chases and recoveries keep showing up in Pierce County patrol reports. The department's public blotter regularly logs stops that end with weapons or drugs being seized, which officials say is why deputies keep up proactive patrols and follow-up warrants. You can see more of those incidents on the Pierce County Sheriff's Office blotter.
Legal Notes
All of the listed offenses are allegations, and the suspect is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Prosecutors will review the case, and the final charging decisions could change as the investigation continues.
