A Washington driver allegedly sped away from a traffic stop and escaped the patrol cars behind him. However, he didn’t realize that an airplane was tracking him too.
Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Carly Cappetto said the encounter began around 8:30 p.m. Aug. 13 during an auto-theft task force operation in Parkland. A deputy noticed a vehicle with no registration tabs and an unregistered license plate.
When the deputy attempted a traffic stop, the 37-year-old driver allegedly accelerated into oncoming traffic. Deputies ended the ground pursuit to reduce the risk to other motorists, according to KIRO 7.
The Washington State Patrol airplane known as “Smokey” then took over. It followed the vehicle from above while relaying its location to deputies on the ground.
“Smokey” Recorded the Escape From Above
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The vehicle eventually stopped near Pacific Avenue. The driver and a female passenger left the car, but Smokey’s camera continued tracking the driver as he crossed yards and climbed over three or four rooftops.
The Washington State Patrol has previously said its aviation fleet includes five Cessna aircraft. One of those planes, Smokey 3, uses forward-looking infrared cameras to track vehicles and direct ground officers from a safer distance.
The Driver Waited in the Pool for 20 Minutes
The driver then went into a backyard containing a trampoline and swimming pool. He entered the water and remained there while the airplane continued directing deputies to his location.
Deputies surrounded the property and waited approximately 20 minutes while determining whether he was armed. Specialized officers and a K-9 unit eventually entered the yard and pulled him out of the pool.
The Car Was Not Actually Stolen
Investigators determined that the vehicle was not stolen, although it remained unregistered. The sheriff’s office said it was booking the driver on suspicion of felony eluding, obstructing a law-enforcement officer and driving with a first-degree suspended license.
The agency has not publicly named the driver. Available reports also do not say whether the female passenger was arrested.
Under Washington law, first-degree driving while suspended applies when someone classified as a habitual traffic offender drives with a revoked license. The offense is a gross misdemeanor carrying a minimum of 10 days in jail for a first conviction.