A 36-year-old man was arrested Wednesday morning on Rainier Avenue after he tried to flee from police in a stolen moving truck, shearing off a wheel in the process.
Just before 7 AM, a patrol officer spotted the suspect passed out in the driver’s seat of a running moving truck, parked near 25th Avenue South and South Hill Street. The officer checked the license plates on the truck and found the vehicle had been reported stolen in Redmond.
Officers attempted to hail the driver on their patrol vehicle’s PA system but were unable to rouse him. Police then approached the cab of truck, waking the suspect, who put the vehicle into gear and sped away. The suspect then crossed four lanes of traffic at Rainier Avenue South and South Hill Street, jumped curb, and struck a concrete platform shearing off one of the truck’s wheels.
With the truck disabled, the suspect tried to flee on foot, but was taken into custody by an officer and K9 team a short distance away. Officers arrested the man, discovered he was wanted on several warrants, and recovered methamphetamine paraphernalia from the truck.
The suspect was taken to Harborview Medical Center for an evaluation and then booked into the King County Jail for possession of stolen property, and warrants. Officers will also be requesting charges for eluding, reckless driving, and hit and run.