Two Kennewick men were arrested early Friday after reportedly swiping a car from a Pasco home and leading police on a chase through town.
Pasco police were called at 1 a.m. Friday after a resident in the 1500 block of North Fourth Avenue reported hearing someone outside and seeing them drive off in his Honda CRX, said Capt. Jim Raymond.
Responding officers first spotted the car at 14th Avenue and Howard Street, and the driver briefly stopped the car. But as officers were ordering the men out of the car, the driver sped off, Raymond said.
Officers chased the car for a short time, but ended the pursuit in the area of Fourth Avenue and Interstate 182, he said. Speeds reached 90 mph in a 25 mph residential zone, court documents said.
The car was spotted again in the area of 20th Avenue and the highway, and officers followed it as it went on Road 68 near Burden Road.
The driver, later identified as Jose Isidro Cisneros, 26, again accelerated away from the officers but police finally found the car near the Broadmoor Boulevard exit, Raymond said.
Cisneros and his passenger, Juan Carlos Villa, 33, bailed out of the car and took off running, Raymond said.
Officers surrounded the area and a Pasco police dog unit that was called out to track the men found them in some bushes, he said.
Cisneros told police he did not know the car was stolen and that some unknown person gave them the car, court documents said. He said he was told to drive and Villa said he was told to get into the passenger seat.
The owner of the car said he did not know the suspects and never gave them permission to take his car. He said he had the only keys, documents said.
Cisneros was found in possession of a Honda key and the key started the car, documents said.
Cisneros and Villa made preliminary appearances Friday in Franklin County Superior Court, where Judge Robert Swisher found cause to hold them for up to 72 hours.
Cisneros is being held on investigation of vehicle theft and attempting to elude police. His bail is set at $15,000.
Defense attorney Matt Rutt was appointed to represent him.
Villa, who had bail set at $5,000, is being held on investigation of second-degree rendering criminal assistance, possessing a stolen vehicle and criminal trespassing.
Shelley Ajax was appointed to represent him.
Prosecutors have until Tuesday to charge or release both men. If charged, their next court hearing is Jan. 17.
