Man arrested after driving wrong way on SR 17
A Moses Lake man was arrested after he allegedly attempted to elude Moses Lake Police officers by driving in the wrong lane of SR 17 late Monday morning.
COURTESY PHOTO/MOSES LAKE POLICE DEPARTMENT
MOSES LAKE — Charges are pending against a Moses Lake man after he allegedly attempted to escape from Moses Lake Police Department officers by driving in the wrong lane on state Route 17.
Erick Rocha, 46, allegedly drove off as MLPD officers attempted to stop him, according to an MLPD media release.
Officers were summoned to a residence on Longview Street for a possible DUI at about 11 a.m., the MLPD release said. But the driver, later identified as Rocha, drove away as officers attempted to stop him.
“Rocha drove down Beacon to Grape Drive before heading southbound in the northbound lanes of SR 17,” the release said. “As officers moved into position to interdict Rocha, he went cross-country on the north side of SR 17, attempting to return to Longview Street. Unfortunately, the 2004 Subaru lacked the power to get airborne and became stuck near the intersection of Longview and Kinder."
Rocha attempted to flee on foot, leading officers on a chase of about three or four blocks before Corporal Yonan Mengist drove up and tackled him.
Charges of DUI, felony eluding and resisting arrest are pending, the release said.