Moses Lake man arrested after car pursuit

MOSES LAKE — A car pursuit in Moses Lake ended with police arresting the suspect Wednesday morning after he was found hiding in a closet.

At approximately 9 a.m. a Grant County sheriff’s deputy stopped Loren Meade, 22, Moses Lake, on South Pioneer Way for a possible illegal window tint and because the deputy believed the driver may have been driving with a suspended license, Grant County Undersheriff John Turley said.

The deputy recognized the vehicle from a previous traffic stop where the driver reportedly had a suspended license but was unable to confirm it was the same the driver due to the window tint, and stopped the vehicle.

Once stopped, the deputy saw the driver was not the person he initially believed it was and asked for his driver’s license, Turley said.

Meade allegedly told the deputy he had just bought the car, a 1989 Honda Accord and was unable to present a driver’s license.

It appeared Meade was anxious to leave the scene, the deputy noted in a police record.

As the deputy was attempting to contact another deputy for a tint meter, Meade allegedly fled the scene at a high rate of speed, Turley said.

The pursuit began on South Pioneer Way, led to Beech Street, then Third Avenue, onto Division Street, Hill Avenue and ended near Clover Drive, he said.

Meade reportedly reached speeds of 50 to 60 mph in the residential neighborhoods and failed to stop at stop signs and stoplights.

The deputy terminated the pursuit near the intersection of Hill Avenue and Grand Drive for safety purposes.

A Moses Lake police officer saw Meade enter a residence in the area of Clover Drive, he said.

The vehicle was located on Hawthorne Drive.

Law enforcement knocked on the door and a woman answered. She gave them permission to search the home for Meade, Turley said.

Meade was reportedly found hiding in a bedroom closet, Turley said.

Law enforcement asked the suspect if he recalled being stopped by the deputy earlier, he claimed no knowledge of the incident and allegedly said he was at the residence the entire morning.

The suspect was dripping with sweat and winded, Turley claims.

Police searched Meade and reportedly found methamphetamine and a butterfly knife in his possession.

Meade was arrested for possession of a dangerous weapon and a Department of Corrections warrant concerning escape from community custody from an original charge of violating the Uniform Controlled Substance Act.

Turley said the vehicle did not belong to Meade, it belonged to the woman whose home he fled to. The woman is believed to be his girlfriend.

He booked into the Grant County Jail with out bail, Turley said.

Meade has an extensive criminal history totaling approximately 140 files in the sheriff’s office data base, many including drug offenses, Turley noted.