A routine seatbelt violation led to an arrest on multiple criminal charges in Mason County last Friday.
A Washington State Patrol trooper attempted to stop a green 1993 Honda on North Highway 101 near Lynch Road around noon last Friday, because the driver was not wearing a seatbelt, according to a press release from the WSP.
The driver did not stop when the trooper activated his emergency lights and a short pursuit ensued, the release states.
The trooper stopped pursuing the suspect after he began driving into oncoming lanes, at one point reaching speeds of more than 100 mph, the release states.
Within the next 15 minutes, an officer with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife found the suspect’s vehicle unoccupied on Lynch Road near Arcadia Road.
Troopers and WDFW officers located the suspect in the area after a resident called in reporting a suspicious person walking through their property.
The Honda driven by the suspect was reported stolen out of Thurston County. The arresting officers located burglary tools in the vehicle, including “shaved” house keys, bolt cutters, a crow bar, and brass knuckles.
In addition to the tools, troopers located evidence of identity theft, including photocopied driver’s licenses and other personal information.
The suspect, whose driver’s license was suspended, was booked into the Mason County Jail on charges of felony eluding, vehicle theft and driving without a license. Troopers are still investigating for further potential criminal charges.
The Kitsap Scene is an online news magazine covering everything in Kitsap County.
