Two arrested after hour long pursuit
Ken Jones Grant County Sheriff's Chief Deputy
MOSES LAKE - A 25-year-old Moses Lake man led police on an hour-long chase spanning about 20 miles in and around Moses Lake.
The incident began at about 8:40 p.m. on Wednesday, when Grant County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a report of a possible theft in progress on County Road H.1 Northeast, according to Sheriff's spokesman Kyle Foreman. He said a resident reportedly saw a pickup truck about five miles north of Moses Lake that was towing a trailer loaded with the suspected stolen off-road-vehicle.
Deputies attempted to pull over the 1999 GMC pickup, which fled with trailer in tow down Stratford Road, into the Larson housing area, through a field, back out to Stratford Road, into and through Moses Lake, eastbound on Interstate 90, off a freeway exit and through the Moses Lake Sand Dunes, Foreman said.
The truck and trailer reached speeds of more than 60 mph at times, and at one point nearly struck a sheriff deputy's car, according to Foreman.
The truck's driver, Michael J. Mendoza, reportedly called 9-1-1 during the chase and asked to speak with a sheriff's office supervisor. Sheriff's Chief Deputy Ken Jones reportedly spoke with Mendoza throughout most of the chase, urging him to stop at once. Mendoza finally complied at about 9:50 p.m., stopping the truck on Division Street near Jones Avenue in Moses Lake.
Investigators reportedly discovered the Arctic Cat ORV on the trailer had been stolen from Skone and Connors Produce.
Mendoza was subsequently booked on suspicion of second degree assault with a motor vehicle, two counts of possession of stolen property, attempted eluding from police, first degree driving with a suspended license and violation of ignition interlock requirement.
His passenger, Tiffany M. Olivera, 25, Moses Lake, was booked on a warrant for failing to appear in court on a charge of third degree theft.
More charges are likely as the investigation continues.
Foreman said at least nine personnel with the Grant County Sheriff's Office, Washington State Patrol and Moses Lake police were engaged in the pursuit.