KENNEWICK — A Kennewick teen was arrested behind the wheel of a stolen car Sunday morning after reportedly leading officers with several agencies on a chase from Richland into Pasco.
A Pasco officer used a maneuver that caused the car to spin out on Interstate 182 after repeated attempts to stop it with spike strips were unsuccessful, according to Richland and Pasco police.
The car had been driving on its rims with flattened tires at that point, and even had a spike strip caught in one of the wheel wells, Richland Capt. Jeff Taylor said in a news release.
Officers were concerned the suspect might take the Road 68 exit -- heading into a crowded business area or a residential neighborhood -- and wanted to stop the car quickly as it moved east on I-182, added Pasco Sgt. Ben Majetich.
The 15-year-old suspect's name was not released by Richland police.
He was booked into juvenile detention on suspicion of eluding, possession of stolen property, minor in possession of alcohol and no valid operator's license, the news release said.
The chase started just before 10 a.m. when a Richland officer noticed the stolen vehicle eastbound on Highway 240 at Van Giesen Street. Police did not disclose the make and model of the car.
The officer and his colleagues tried to stop the car at 240 and Duportail Street, but it drove off. Then they had one failed attempt to spike the car before the strip got the front passenger tire, the Richland news release said.
The car did stop on two separate occasions, Taylor said.
Officers eventually got all four tires of the stolen car before the spike strip got caught in the wheel well, he said.
A Benton County sheriff's deputy also assisted in the chase, and Washington State Patrol troopers blocked traffic as it moved into Pasco so officers could force the spin-out without endangering other highway motorists.
Majetich said no other vehicles were around in the three eastbound lanes when his officer's patrol car touched bumpers with the suspect vehicle, then accelerated and turned, which caused the other driver to lose control.
The stolen car was going about 25 to 30 mph when the officer performed the maneuver, he added.
Richland officers took the teen into custody since the chase started in their jurisdiction. Majetich said Pasco police may be recommending similar charges for the teen to the Franklin County prosecutor.
No one was injured in the incident.
