Fleeing suspect in Jeep rams cop car, several other vehicles
CENTRALIA, Wash. - A 33-year-old Chehalis man was arrested Saturday evening after he fled from police in a Jeep, rammed a patrol car then crashed into several other vehicles, Centralia police said.
The drama began after 8 p.m. when officers responded to a report of a theft at a local business in the 1200 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia.
Witnesses told police that the suspect had stolen several items then left in what was described as a white Jeep, and a license plate number was provided.
An officer found the Jeep near Foron Road. When the suspect spotted the officer, he took off in the Jeep in an attempt to get away, Centralia police said.
The officer followed the suspect in his patrol car, but the suspect turned around in a long driveway and rammed the police car, according to police.
The suspect's vehicle then fled east bound on Harrison Avenue and was seen by several officers heading toward Interstate 5 at high speed. As the suspect attempted to drive onto northbound lanes of the freeway, he collided with several other vehicles, police said.
The suspect's Jeep finally became disabled from the crashes, so he jumped out and fled on foot but was quickly apprehended by officers.
The suspect was identified as Edison C. Church, 33, of Chehalis. He was booked into Lewis County jail for investigation of second-degree assault and eluding an officer.
The drama began after 8 p.m. when officers responded to a report of a theft at a local business in the 1200 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia.
Witnesses told police that the suspect had stolen several items then left in what was described as a white Jeep, and a license plate number was provided.
An officer found the Jeep near Foron Road. When the suspect spotted the officer, he took off in the Jeep in an attempt to get away, Centralia police said.
The officer followed the suspect in his patrol car, but the suspect turned around in a long driveway and rammed the police car, according to police.
The suspect's vehicle then fled east bound on Harrison Avenue and was seen by several officers heading toward Interstate 5 at high speed. As the suspect attempted to drive onto northbound lanes of the freeway, he collided with several other vehicles, police said.
The suspect's Jeep finally became disabled from the crashes, so he jumped out and fled on foot but was quickly apprehended by officers.
The suspect was identified as Edison C. Church, 33, of Chehalis. He was booked into Lewis County jail for investigation of second-degree assault and eluding an officer.
