Vehicle pursuit ends with arrest
MOSES LAKE — Law enforcement arrested Paul L. Gorden, 30, after a vehicle pursuit that began in Moses Lake late Wednesday afternoon.
Gorden was taken into custody for eluding police and for Skagit County warrants concerning rape in the second degree and four counts of exploitation of a minor, said Ed Owens, Grant County chief deputy prosecutor, on Thursday.
Gorden is being held in the Grant County Jail with bail set at $125,000 for the combined offenses.
The pursuit was an effort between the Moses Lake Police Department and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident began when a Moses Lake police sergeant conducted a traffic stop on the black truck Gorden was reportedly driving in the area of North Stratford Road and Valley Road, Grant County Deputy Darrik Gregg said. As the officer was confirming Gorden’s information through the dispatch center, Gorden allegedly fled the area on North Stratford Road in the truck.
Police reportedly followed Gorden to state Route 17 but lost sight of him in the area of Airway Drive.
Gregg was traveling on Valley Road when he reportedly spotted Gorden traveling on Crestview Drive. The pursuit was engaged again and continued through Cascade Valley and onto Elgin Street. The pursuit led them through a field and was halted when Gorden allegedly traveled though residential yards where he got a flat tire due to running over debris.
Law enforcement lost Gorden and began a house-to-house search in the area of Wild Goose Road and Elgin Street. Residents were informed about the suspect for their safety.
Gorden was allegedly found inside a home on Elgin Street, Gregg said.
Gorden’s criminal record was flagged for officer safety because he was reportedly a threat to law enforcement in Skagit County in the past, according to law enforcement.
He was taken into custody without threats to officers when he was apprehended.
Gregg said once Gorden was arrested, the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office was notified. Skagit County deputies were recently at Gorden’s home waiting to arrest him, so they were excited to hear he was caught near Moses Lake, Gregg added.