The King County Sheriff’s Office said teamwork between the Guardian One helicopter, patrol deputies, and a K-9 Unit led to the arrest of a wanted felon after he led police on a high speed chase early Sunday morning in Maple Valley.
The incident start just before 1 a.m. when a woman called 911 to report that someone was breaking into her home in the 19200 block of Maxwell Road Southeast.
The King County Sheriff’s Office Guardian One helicopter was the first to arrive on the scene and saw the suspects exit the house and flee in a black Lexus, driving through the front yard.
Guardian One pilots directed patrol deputies to the vehicle as it fled. Deputies spotted the vehicle driving on Lake Francis Rd. The driver pulled over momentarily before speeding away.
Deputies pursued the vehicle southbound on Maple Valley Hwy and spike strips were deployed on SR 169 at SE 216th St. and again at Southeast 231 Street. The suspect vehicle became disabled as a result of the spike strips and stopped near Southeast 244 St. and state Route 169.
As the vehicle came to a stop, three occupants exited the vehicle. One of the occupants, a 37-year-old Everett man, gave up and the other two fled on foot. Deputies chased the suspects into a wooded area. The driver, a 27-year-old man from Renton, gave up in front of a house after falling down and being boxed in by a patrol car.
The third occupant, a 21-year-old woman from Renton, was apprehended by a patrol deputy and K-9 Unit as she hid in the woods.
Deputies said the 27-year old-driver was arrested for a felony escape warrant and the other two were released when the home owner declined to press charges.
Deputies said there appeared to be some type of relationship between the suspects and the victim of burglary which led to her declining to file a report for the burglary.
To view a video of the pursuit, click here.
