Car chase leads to 2 arrests

MATTAWA - Two Moses Lake men learned the meaning of "long arm of the law" on May 8. They were caught after the second of two high-speed car chases.

The two men were in a stolen car, which authorities did know before making contact. They eventually drove into a position of no escape and were apprehended after some struggle.

Luis Ramirez, 20, and Armando Perez, 24, were taken to jail after leading police on a pursuit through Grant and Adams Counties.

At about 11:45 p.m. on May 8, a Mattawa police officer tried to pull over a 1998 Honda Civic for traffic violation. The driver had made an illegal U-turn at Road 24-Southwest and State Route 243.

The Mattawa Officer chased the vehicle on Road 24 SW to Rd O SW before terminating the pursuit.

"I called the chase off," Mattawa Police Chief John Turley said. "I didn't have any back-up close by. My officer could see two men in the car and they were taking him east on Road 24. There was a potential for a shootout, and I didn't want my guy getting hurt."

The good news was that the chase officer put out a call describing the Honda and noting it did not have a rear license plate.

At about 12:20 a.m., Grant County Sheriff's Office Gang Unit deputies, responding to the original pursuit call, were taking a shortcut through Adams County when they spotted the Honda traveling eastbound on Highway 24.

"Deputies had a hunch the car was going to continue eastbound and that State Route 24 was the most likely route," Sheriff Tom Jones said. "The Mattawa officer gave a great description of the car."

Deputies tried to stop the Honda, Jones said, but it took off at a high rate of speed. A pursuit ensued, and it continued into the Othello city limits.

The Honda eventually pulled into a driveway on Cunningham Road just west of Othello. It drove through a yard and over a two foot concrete retaining wall, disabling the car.

Both occupants fled from the vehicle on foot.

The driver, Ramirez, 20, tried to hide under a potato truck and was taken into custody without incident. Perez, 24, was subdued with a Taser before being taken into custody.

Ramirez was taken to Grant County Jail for investigation of possession of a stolen motor vehicle, attempting to elude a police vehicle, possession of dangerous weapon, resisting arrest and three warrants. Perez was taken to Grant County Jail for investigation of possession of stolen motor vehicle and resisting arrest.