Men steal woman's vehicle, run for Ephrata

Car stolen in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE - Two men were arrested Thursday night after allegedly stealing a vehicle from a Moses Lake woman and fleeing toward Ephrata.

Jason Wise, 25, Granite Falls, Wash., was arrested for robbery in the second degree and felony eluding. Christopher J. Broughton, 21, Hunters, Wash., was arrested for robbery in the second degree.

A 26-year-old female was reportedly approached by the two men when she exited her vehicle in the Shari's Restaurant parking lot in Moses Lake, stated Moses Lake Police Sgt. Mike Williams.

The two men reportedly demanded her vehicle key and purse.

The woman pulled away from the suspects when they allegedly attempted to take her purse and in the process the suspects managed to obtain her vehicle key, according to Moses Lake Police Capt. Dave Ruffin.

The woman was not injured.

She ran to the restaurant while the two suspects allegedly fled in her 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage, stated Williams. A detective reportedly saw the vehicle traveling on state Route 17 and directed patrol units to its location.

The Grant County Sheriff's Office and the Washington State Patrol spotted and attempted to stop the vehicle, but the Mirage continued toward Ephrata, he reported.

The vehicle reportedly stopped near Randolph Road. Once the officers exited their vehicles, the driver of the Mirage began traveling toward Ephrata again, according to Grant Count Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy John Turley.

"With their lights off in near dark conditions they reached speeds up to 90 mph forcing several cars off the road," he said. "The chase continued northbound until the intersection of SR-17 and state Route 28. The pursuit then led officers back toward Ephrata where the driver of the Mirage was able to avoid spike strips placed in the roadway by an Ephrata police officer."

Turley advised the pursuit continued through downtown Ephrata where the suspects were traveling at speeds of up to 60 mph. He said officers lowered their speeds and temporarily lost sight of the suspect vehicle.

The vehicle was located again near the Ephrata Landfill. The driver crashed the Mirage and the suspects attempted to flee on foot.

Law enforcement reportedly located Wise near the vehicle while Broughton ran, Williams reported.

Officers used a K-9 dog to track the suspect.

Broughton reportedly flagged a female driver who stopped and gave him a ride back into Ephrata, dropping him off at a gas station, Williams reported.

Turley said the female driver contacted law enforcement with the suspect's whereabouts.

"An off-duty lieutenant from the Grant County Jail, monitoring the events on his mobile radio, was nearby and found Broughton exiting the service station where he had just purchased a beer," he said.

The lieutenant reportedly stopped the suspect at gunpoint, holding him for other law enforcement. He was arrested and booked into the Grant County Jail.

Ruffin said the victim did not know the suspects and it was unclear what they were doing in Moses Lake. He said the entire incident lasted about 45 minutes.

According to Turley, Broughton was previously convicted of theft, negligent driving, reckless driving and for making false statements to a public servant.

Wise was previously convicted of residential burglary, forgery, assault, misdemeanors, reckless driving, theft, trespassing, possession of drug paraphernalia and traffic violations, Turley added.