A plan to hijack a semi-truck loaded with merchandise
from Walmart triggered a pursuit today that left motorists
dodging the speeding 18 wheeler.
Investigators say long-time thief Daren Allen Suiter,
38, was behind the wheel of the big rig as it careened
around some of Spokane's busiest streets.
The precise route of the chase isn't clear, but we
know it started in the 3100 block of N. Coleman. The
truck made its way to Central and Lidgerwood where
it crashed into a vehicle. The chase ended in the
1500 block of E. Dalton.
This could be considered one of the biggest chases
in Spokane's history, especially if you go by gross
weight and the number of miles driven.
Vehicle pursuits are always dangerous, but this one
was particularly brutal, taking out a fence and crushing
a car, all because two thieves wanted an entire truckload
of stolen loot. This is what stopped the driver's
long haul getaway, as he crashed into other cars,
narrowly missing others.
“Well, he almost drove over me down here on Foothills,”
said witness Michael Schmidt.
“All of a sudden, the semi crosses up onto the sidewalk
into the field passing me on its right, and the police
are coming and they are trying to get in front of
him, but the semi's so big they can't,” said witness
Bob Sargent.
While police and sheriff's deputies thought about
ways to slow down the truck, the driver evaded every
obstacle in his way with no regard for anyone else's
safety.
Officers even contemplated using deadly force against
the guy driving the truck, but the chase ended and
the suspect took off on foot.
“The guy who stole the truck was just flying through
the neighborhood, running after he got out of the
semi,” said witness James Borders. “He dropped his
hat in my front yard. His coat somewhere in the middle
of the street.”
Police and sheriff's deputies used their loud speakers
to urge neighbors to stay inside. They brought in
Air 1 to find where the suspect had gone to ground.
But, in the end, it was a patrol dog's keen nose that
found the thief hiding under an RV. The suspect fought
with Laslo and needed to be treated for his injuries.
Witnesses of the pursuit were relieved to see it end.
Those who saw the speeding semi understood just how
dangerous the situation was and how lucky we were
that no one was hurt.
“We were in my house, on the porch, drinking coffee,
me and the wife, when I heard a lot of tires squealing,”
said witness Rick Garza. “Me and the wife turned,
and that guy came barreling down the street, and I
was still watching him when he bumped into the car
and took off that way. I don't know how he made it
but he did.”
The scene described on Lidgerwood and Columbia is
just one of dozens of residential intersections the
rogue semi blasted through Thursday. Remarkably, the
only damage sustained during the odd chase was to
property, not to people.
“The only thing I have to tell you is thank God the
kids from school weren't walking,” said Garza. “You
know, he could've hurt somebody, if not worse.”
Logan neighborhood resident Tom Prange was driving
with his young daughter when he encountered the semi.
“We were just actually driving down the street,” said
Prange. “Next thing I know, this big rig is coming
up behind us and I heard the sirens and I tried to
get over.”
Remarkably, the chase ended without anyone getting
hurt.
“All I can say is that man knew how the hell to drive
a rig,” said Prange. “But yeah, not boring day in
this area.”
The totality of the damage is still getting pieced
together as police are working with property owners.
