A 38-year-old man allegedly led Seattle police on a chase through North Seattle in a stolen car, rammed a patrol vehicle, pointed a loaded gun at an officer and then jumped into Lake Washington, where he treaded water for about 25 minutes before swimming to shore and being taken into custody.
The chain of events began Thursday when a 911 caller reported that his car had been stolen while he was unloading items into his business near Northgate, according to Seattle police. The Seattle Times reported on the chase and related events. The man had apparently climbed through the vehicle's open tailgate to start it before driving off eastbound on Northeast 123rd Street. The caller and an officer were able to trace the car's AirTag to the Matthews Beach neighborhood.
Per the Seattle Police Department, an officer found the suspect sitting in the stolen vehicle near the 10000 block of Riviera Place Northeast, and the man reversed the car into the officer's patrol vehicle while the officer was still inside. The report notes that this wasn't his only reckless move behind the wheel — he also backed the car into the yard of a nearby home and then into the side of another house after getting stuck.
Gun Pointed at Officer Before Suspect Fled on Foot
The situation escalated further when the man opened the driver's side door and pointed a loaded gun at an officer, who took cover, the police department's account states. The suspect then dropped the gun and ran through a nearby home's carport, apparently trying to put distance between himself and the responding officers.
From there, the station's report says he jumped into Lake Washington in an attempt to get away. He treaded water for about 25 minutes before swimming to shore, where he was taken into custody. He reportedly told officers the water was cold.
Fake Name, Active Warrants and a Drug Test
The man initially gave officers a fake name, but they were able to confirm his real identity, according to the same account. He reportedly revealed that he had active warrants and feared a lengthy jail sentence — warrants that police said came from the Department of Corrections, the King County Sheriff's Office and the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office, and that he was on probation at the time of the chase.
Seattle Fire Department medics evaluated the man, who said he had swallowed drugs and spit out a white substance later identified as fentanyl. He was booked into King County Jail for investigation of unlawfully possessing a firearm, vehicle theft and assault, per the police department's statement.
