A 32-year-old Tacoma woman is facing multiple charges after leading sheriff's deputies on a high-speed chase through Kitsap and Pierce Counties in Washington, authorities said.
The incident began Sunday night when the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call about a woman kicking down a door in Port Orchard, a small city west of Seattle. The caller told dispatchers the woman was searching for a 16-year-old girl who had reportedly gone missing, according to law enforcement.
Background
Deputies responded to the scene but discovered that the teenager was not at the residence. Authorities said the woman and a female passenger then fled the area in a white Chevrolet. During the chase, the passenger began waving out the window as vehicles pursued them through south Kitsap County and into neighboring Pierce County.
The sheriff's office released dashcam and body-worn camera footage showing the dramatic pursuit. In video captured during the chase, the passenger would later tell deputies she was "begging the driver to stop" and feared for her life, according to authorities.
The Charges
As additional law enforcement vehicles joined the pursuit, a Pierce County deputy deployed spike strips in an attempt to disable the fleeing vehicle. The Chevrolet struck the barriers and lost a tire, forcing it to continue on a flat.
Just then, a deputy performed a Precision Immobilization Technique, or PIT maneuver, nudging the rear of the Chevrolet with his patrol vehicle to bring the high-speed chase to an end.
The driver was taken into custody at the scene. According to Kitsap County jail records, she was booked on July 5 on charges of burglary, attempting to elude law enforcement, reckless endangerment, and driving without a license after it was revoked for being classified as a habitual traffic offender.
A twist in the investigation came when authorities discovered that the teenager the woman claimed to be searching for was also inside the vehicle during the chase. Neither the teenager nor the passenger were injured.
Key Takeaways
- The 32-year-old Tacoma woman has been charged with burglary, attempting to elude law enforcement, reckless endangerment, and driving without a license
- Her license had previously been revoked after she was found guilty of being a habitual traffic offender
- The chase spanned south Kitsap County into neighboring Pierce County before deputies stopped the vehicle using a PIT maneuver
- The 16-year-old girl the defendant claimed to be searching for was discovered inside the vehicle with her
What's Next
The defendant remains detained without bail pending further court proceedings. She is next scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 6, where she will face the charges filed against her. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and the teenager's involvement continues.