Caught

AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. - When several police cars whipped past Richard Henderson on Tuesday, the Newport, Wash., man couldn't resist following to see where the mayhem ended.

Stolen vehicle suspect Michael S. Tavares, 33, Post Falls, led police on a 37-mile chase from Coeur d'Alene to Airway Heights west of Spokane, where he was arrested in a Walmart parking lot.

Henderson, who followed the commotion from Spokane Valley, looked on after several patrol vehicles from multiple agencies surrounded the Jeep Liberty that Tavares was driving.

"Cops were flying by me on Interstate 90," Henderson said. "It didn't appear the guy was traveling more than 70. I think that it's awesome that they didn't let him get away."

Tavares was booked into the Spokane County Jail on three felony charges - possession of a stolen vehicle, assault and eluding. He also faces three misdemeanors - failure to provide information to police, driving while suspended and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The incident began around 10 a.m. at the Denny's restaurant in Coeur d'Alene where Tavares was allegedly making suicidal threats, said Jeff Sevigney, Washington State Patrol spokesman.

Local police responded and found Tavares had left the restaurant and allegedly stolen the black Jeep owned by Coeur d'Alene's Dick Stauffer from a nearby gas station.

Stauffer, an owner of Miller Stauffer Architects, said his 21-year-old son, Cody, was driving the Jeep and had gone inside the station for a cup of coffee.

"He was a little shook up, but he wasn't accosted or anything," Dick said of his son. "He left the vehicle unlocked with the keys inside, and when he came out of the gas station, the vehicle was gone. He thought maybe he'd forgotten where he parked it, did a lap around the building and realized it was gone."

Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls and Idaho State police officers were joined by officers from several Washington agencies in the pursuit with speeds that ranged from 50 to 80 mph.

During the chase, police set up spike strips six times, and each time, Tavares evaded them.

Police chased Tavares on Interstate 90 from Coeur d'Alene through Spokane and into Airway Heights, where the pursuit ended at the Walmart at the intersection of U.S. 2 and Hayford Road.

Several police vehicles cornered Tavares in the stolen vehicle using pit maneuvers - the use of police vehicles to slow a suspect's vehicle. As a result, a WSP car and the Jeep were damaged. Stauffer said the Jeep is insured.

"It's not going to be drivable - at least for a while," Stauffer said.

When the Jeep stopped, Tavares exited from the passenger side and attempted to flee on foot, Sevigney said. Police immediately captured him and he was arrested without further incident.

The vehicle was stopped about 20 feet from an entrance to Walmart.

Sevigney said Tavares acted "erratic," both during the chase while driving at varying speeds and during questioning after he was arrested.

"He wasn't real cooperative as far as providing accurate information," Sevigney said.

Tavares was booked into the Kootenai County jail 11 times from 2005 to 2013. Charges included drug charges, disturbing the peace, open container, trespassing, malicious injury to property and obstructing.

WSP Sgt. Douglas Jacobs said police stayed both in front of the Jeep and behind it during the pursuit to keep motorists safe.

"Multiple agencies in both states communicated effectively," Jacobs said.