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Patrol plane leads K9, deputies to assault suspect hiding in woods

Today, at noon, a 911 caller reported a suspicious white Range Rover, with plastic covering the windows and no plates, that had been parked at the intersection of 20th St E and 88th Ave E in Edgewood since 5:00 a.m.

Edgewood deputies responded and saw the driver passed out inside. He suddenly woke up and sped away in the vehicle, which was already running.

The vehicle drove through multiple yards, and after several minutes, it came to a stop. Deputies attempted to get the suspect out of the car, but he refused to comply with their commands.

After a few more minutes, the suspect took off again in the vehicle. He rammed a Milton Police patrol car and drove over spike strips as he tried to get away.

The suspect drove eastbound on Valley Ave before cutting through the Puyallup Rec Center parking lot and onto the grass area. He bailed out of the car and fled on foot into a tree line.

Deputies and officers from neighboring agencies set up a perimeter while a K9 unit and Smokey, the Washington State Patrol’s airplane, responded to the scene.

Smokey located the suspect hiding in a wooded area and led K9 Axel (Tacoma PD) right to his location, where the suspect was arrested.

The 30-year-old suspect was transported to the hospital to be treated for injuries sustained during the K9 contact. A blood draw will also be completed to determine if he was driving under the influence of narcotics.

A records check revealed that the Range Rover was stolen.

Once the suspect is cleared by medical staff, he will be booked into jail for assault in the first degree, eluding, and possession of a stolen vehicle.