A stolen pickup, a high-speed chase and chainsaws flying out the window turned a Parkland car theft into a roadside spectacle near Joint Base Lewis-McChord on Tuesday, according to deputies. The pursuit ended when the truck slid off the road and got stuck at a JBLM logistics gate, where two men were taken into custody.
From stolen truck to freeway pursuit
According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, the chaos started when a Parkland resident reported her 2006 Ford F-250 missing from an apartment complex. A K-9 deputy later spotted the pickup heading south on Interstate 5 and followed as the driver tried to slip away, triggering a pursuit that pushed toward the JBLM logistics gate. Deputies say the truck eventually veered off the roadway and became stuck near the gate, where military police grabbed one of the men inside.
Chainsaws hurled into traffic
The News Tribune reports that during the chase, the front-seat passenger started pitching gear out of the moving truck, including a chainsaw and rope equipment. Charging documents say a second chainsaw followed. According to troopers, a Washington State Patrol vehicle took a major hit after striking one of the chainsaws in the roadway, turning the tossed tools into high-speed shrapnel for officers and nearby drivers.
Two men arrested, one injured
Per the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, deputies and a K-9 unit tracked down a 31-year-old passenger who was still in the truck and took him into custody, while the 28-year-old driver was booked into the Pierce County Jail. The passenger was treated at a hospital for a dog bite before being jailed. Investigators say both men were arrested at the scene after the truck bogged down near the base.
Tool thefts add to safety worries
Tool and equipment thefts have been dogging Pierce County all year, including cases where thieves targeted chainsaws and similar gear, according to reporting by KIRO 7. Law enforcement officials say turning stolen tools into projectiles during a pursuit only compounds the problem, raising the odds that troopers or everyday drivers will collide with debris and end up with serious damage or injuries.
Felony charges and court moves
Charging documents reviewed by The News Tribune show the 31-year-old passenger is charged with second-degree assault and obstructing a law enforcement officer. The 28-year-old driver faces second-degree assault, unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle and obstructing an officer. According to the documents, Pierce County Superior Court Judge Pro Tempore Megan Foley set bail at $50,000 for one of the defendants.
Investigators are still piecing together details from charging papers and social media posts as the case works its way through court. The standout detail, chainsaws thrown into live traffic, has prompted fresh warnings from law enforcement about fleeing in stolen cars and about leaving valuable tools unsecured in the first place.
