Spokane Valley Deputies arrested the driver of a vehicle who fled from a traffic stop in a car and then on foot. His short but reckless attempt to evade the Deputy, without any regard for the safety of anyone in the area, was done because he was scared that he’d go to jail for driving while suspended. He was booked into jail for felony Attempt to Elude Police Vehicle and misdemeanor charges of Obstructing in addition to Driving While Suspended/Revoked 1st Degree.
On May 31, 2022, at approximately 11:55 pm., Spokane Valley Deputy E. Jones observed a white Impala driving east on E. Knox, approaching Hutchinson. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as 24-year-old Alonzo Bran-Mendez, suddenly turned into a driveway on the north side of E. Knox.
Deputy Jones checked the license plate of the suspicious vehicle and found the registered owner’s driver’s license was suspended/revoked 2nd degree. Deputy Jones turned around and drove back toward the Impala, which had backed out of the driveway and traveled east on E. Knox.
After passing the Impala, Deputy Jones turned around to conduct a traffic stop and observed the Impala turn south, quickly and against a red light, onto N. Argonne. Deputy Jones activated his emergency lights and siren and turned south on N. Argonne to try and get Bran-Mendez to stop. As he did, he observed Bran-Mendez cross multiple lanes of traffic and turn into a parking lot, 2022 N. Argonne, without slowing for oncoming, northbound traffic.
Deputy Jones followed Bran-Mendez, who had accelerated rapidly, into the parking lot. Bran-Mendez appeared to almost hit a pedestrian in the parking lot and drove around a group of parked cars. Deputy Jones approached from the north at a much safer speed and saw Bran-Mendez running to the north. Deputy Jones stopped his fully marked patrol car and gave chase on foot, ordering Bran-Mendez to stop and that he was not free to leave. Deputy Jones lost sight of Bran-Mendez after he jumped a fence on the north side of the parking lot.
Deputy Jones returned to the Impala and began an investigation as other Deputies arrived to assist. He spoke to the vehicle's registered owner and was told Bran-Mendez had borrowed the car.
Deputies surveilled the car to see if the suspect would return, and at approximately 1:20 am., Deputy Pittman heard a male’s voice and observed two people to the north of where the Impala had been abandoned. Deputies moved to cut off avenues of escape and contacted the pair, one identified as Bran-Mendez and the second as the registered owner of the Impala.
Bran-Mendez was advised of his rights and agreed to answer questions. He said he ran because he knew his license was suspended (a misdemeanor) and didn’t want to go to jail. He was advised he was now being charged with a felony and two misdemeanors.
Bran-Mendez was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Attempting to Elude a Police Vehicle, Obstructing, and Driving While Suspended/Revoked 1st Degree.
Original source can be found here.
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