Thurston County deputies arrested an eight-time convicted felon Saturday night after a high‑speed pursuit in which the driver fled against oncoming traffic, according to an official statement from the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO). The incident unfolded near Meridian Road in rural Thurston County after a deputy found a vehicle stopped in the roadway.

TCSO reported that the deputy approached the vehicle and saw the driver partially unconscious with drug paraphernalia in his lap. When the deputy attempted to question him, the driver refused to cooperate, rolled up his window, started the vehicle, and accelerated away at high speed, traveling the wrong way down the road. TCSO released video of the encounter on its verified Facebook page, available at this official post.

Deputies pursued the vehicle and attempted to stop it, but the suspect crashed into a guardrail. Even after being pinned by patrol vehicles, the driver continued to refuse commands to exit. K9 Asher was brought to the scene, and the driver ultimately surrendered following the canine team’s arrival.

According to TCSO, the suspect has eight felony convictions, including auto theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, theft, second‑degree assault, and hit‑and‑run with injury, along with multiple gross misdemeanor convictions. He also has a suspended license and is legally required to use an ignition interlock device.

Deputies obtained a search warrant to seize drug paraphernalia from the vehicle. Two vials of the suspect’s blood were collected for laboratory testing, TCSO said. The man was booked on suspicion of DUI, attempting to elude, driving with a suspended license in the third degree, and operating a vehicle without a required ignition interlock device.

In a statement included with the release, Sheriff Derek Sanders described the case as an example of deputies removing a dangerous driver from local roads.

Why this matters

Although the pursuit took place in Thurston County, similar cases have surfaced throughout southwest Washington, where high‑risk driving, substance‑related impairment, and repeat auto‑theft offenders continue to place pressure on local patrol agencies. The incident reflects ongoing statewide concerns about roadway safety and how law enforcement responds to drivers who flee traffic stops.

For residents of Cowlitz County — where auto theft, impaired driving, and police pursuit policies have been recurring public safety concerns — the case offers insight into how neighboring jurisdictions are handling high‑risk encounters with repeat offenders and what tools, such as K9 units or targeted patrols, are being used to resolve them.

Sources