By Sarah Calams
KENT, Wash. — A 31-time convicted felon was arrested over the weekend after stealing a truck, leading police on a pursuit and slamming into an officer’s patrol car.
A Kent Police Department officer first spotted the suspect in a stolen truck and attempted to pull him over. Due to recent changes in pursuit policy in Washington state, the officer was unable to pursue the suspect once he fled from the attempted stop, FOX13 reported.
However, the suspect later rammed into the front of a sergeant’s patrol car, authorizing police to pursue the driver in the stolen vehicle. The officers cornered the suspect into a cul-de-sac, where he then rammed the driver’s side door of the sergeant’s vehicle.
“The suspect began revving his engine, burning a hole inside the police car door, trapping the sergeant inside,” KPD told FOX13.
Officers asked the man to step out from the vehicle, and, when he did, he tried to run away from police. KPD officers were able to apprehend the man and arrest him. The man, who has 31 prior convictions, was arrested last month on a felony warrant for eluding police, according to the report.
KPD Police Chief Rafael Padilla spoke out after the incident, saying it should not have occurred in the first place.
“This incident should have never occurred because this offender should have still been incarcerated based on his prior convictions,” Padilla said. “While some may consider incarceration ineffective or obsolete, the reality is our community has a right to be safe from these violent criminals. We are very fortunate that none of our officers were injured or killed during this arrest.”
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