Targeted street patrols by Kent Police recently led to the arrest of two felons, one driving an unlicensed vehicle and the other driving a stolen car.
Both incidents were on Oct. 30, according to an Oct. 31 Kent Police news release, in what the department calls on-view arrests, seeing violations as officers patrol the streets.
In the first incident, an officer conducting patrols near Central Avenue North and East Pioneer Street saw an unlicensed Chevy Trailblazer. The driver noticed police and sped up northbound on Central Avenue. According to police, when a driver speeds away it often means the car is stolen, engaged in criminal activity or transporting something they want to keep secret from law enforcement.
In this case, a 30-year-old Lakewood woman had warrants and no driver’s license, according to police. An officer used a precision immobilization technique (PIT) maneuver to stop the vehicle and questioned the driver and two passengers.
The driver had a legit medical condition and could not be booked, but she is being investigated for attempting to elude a police vehicle, reckless endangerment, driving on a suspended license, bail jumping and possession of an illegal narcotic.
Turns out her passengers reportedly were screaming at her to stop the car for the officer, but she refused, so the driver is also being arrested for investigation of unlawful imprisonment. Police impounded the vehicle.
About two hours after the first arrest, an officer spotted a stolen Mini Cooper traveling westbound on Willis Street. Another officer pulled behind the car, which sped up but then stalled reportedly because the driver didn’t know how to use a stick to drive a manual transmission.
The man fled on foot, but officers caught him. The 30-year-old Kent man allegedly is a prolific car thief and reportedly had a firearm in his backpack. Officers took him into custody without incident. Police also reportedly found drugs inside the car.
Police arrested the man for investigation of eluding and second-degree driving while license suspended. A passenger in the car, a 27-year-old Bellevue woman, faces an obstructing charge. Additional charges are pending regarding the drugs and gun in the backpack.
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