Man races through airport, flees in stolen van

By Associated Press

Summary

A Seattle-Tacoma International Airport spokesman says a man wanted in Snohomish County ran from police as he was preparing to board a flight at the airport, raced through restricted areas, and then fled in a van stolen from a TV production company.

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Story Published: Nov 3, 2009 at 7:30 PM PST

Story Updated: Nov 3, 2009 at 7:30 PM PST

SEATAC, Wash. (AP) - A Seattle-Tacoma International Airport spokesman says a man wanted in Snohomish County ran from police as he was preparing to board a flight at the airport, raced through restricted areas, and then fled in a van stolen from a TV production company.

Police found the van later in suburban Tukwila, but the man had vanished.

Airport spokesman Perry Cooper says Port of Seattle police had received a tip that a man sought on an assault warrant planned to board a Southwest Airlines flight on Tuesday.

Police tried to snag the man before he boarded the plane, but he bolted through an emergency exit, ran down a ramp outside near the aircraft, through the baggage claim area and then back outside.

There he hopped into a rental van being loaded by employees of a cable television show called "The Locator" - and off he went.