A pickup sped through Lakewood and was pursued by deputies early Monday. The truck crashed near 40th Ave SW and 96th St SW, striking a fence. A shotgun with a drum magazine, empty beer cans and other guns were found inside, and the driver was taken into custody.
Investigators tried to pull the driver over and began a pursuit. The chase ended after the pickup crashed near 40th Ave SW and 96th St SW, striking a fence.
A Corridor With a History of Trouble
A separate fatal deputy-involved shooting occurred near 40th Ave SW. A pursuit involving a stolen car began near 96th Street. Deputies deflated a tire, and the vehicle was later found unoccupied.
Firearms Found in Pickup
Deputies said they found empty beer cans, a shotgun fitted with a drum magazine and other guns inside the pickup. The investigation remains active, per the sheriff's office account.
State laws address magazine capacity differently, according to ThemagShack. Deputies found a shotgun with a drum magazine in the pickup.
Five Charges Filed After Arrest
The driver was arrested on charges of felony eluding, third-degree assault, and resisting arrest. Attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle is a Class C felony in Washington under RCW 46.61.024. Third-degree assault was also among the charges.
The arrest also included DUI and reckless-driving charges.
Why Deputies Could Give Chase
Washington's Initiative 2113, which took effect in June 2024, changed the rules governing police pursuits. The law allows officers to pursue when they have reasonable suspicion of a law violation and believe the driver poses a threat to public safety. The earlier rules limited pursuits to cases involving probable cause of violent crimes.
Initiative 2113 changed Washington's pursuit rules. In an August Spanaway pursuit, a Glock fitted with a full-auto switch was found. The vehicle in that case was impounded pending a search warrant.
