Eluding, theft suspect arrested

POST FALLS - A suspect who allegedly led multiple law enforcement agencies on a chase Sunday night in a stolen vehicle was arrested in Post Falls after both a police dog and stun gun were deployed.

Suspect Steven C. Gill, 30, Spokane Valley, was arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia and stolen property; eluding; obstructing an officer and introduction of contraband into a jail.

The pursuit started in Spokane Valley around 8:35 p.m. and went eastbound on Interstate 90 into Post Falls.

"The vehicle was reported as doing in excess of 90 mph and had hit a couple of the Spokane County Sheriff's Office cars," said Kootenai County Sheriff's Office Lt. Stu Miller.

A SCSO deputy used a police car maneuver to get the 1995 Plymouth Neon driven by Gill to stop as it was turning south onto Pleasant View Road from the freeway off ramp.

"(Gill) then fled on foot and attempted to get into a car that was leaving the Exxon gas station, but the door did not open," Miller said. "(Gill) then jumped on the hood of the car, but fell off as the car left the parking lot.

"It sounds like this was an intense, rapidly-evolving situation that law enforcement was attempting to stop, and the person in the car (at the gas station) probably just wanted out of the area."

When Gill attempted to flee on foot again, a SCSO deputy deployed a K-9.

"During the K-9 contact, (Gill) was still attempting to run away and (the SCSO deputy) used a Taser to finally subdue him," Miller said.

Gill was arrested by the KCSO and transported to Kootenai Health for an evaluation. After he was cleared, he was booked into the Kootenai County jail.

A small amount of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were found on Gill during the booking process at the jail, Miller said.

Gill was issued a misdemeanor citation for obstructing earlier on Sunday on East Sprague in Spokane, according to the Spokane County Sheriff's Office.

Later, dispatch received an anonymous call reporting Gill was in a car in the 1400 block of N. Argonne Road and that he had taken a bunch of pills.

When a deputy responded, Gill began talking and reaching around the interior of the car, according to the SCSO. Gill didn't comply with commands to put his hands on his head, and sped off. During the chase, Gill clipped a stationary vehicle at an intersection and rammed into a patrol car after a deputy attempted to get him to stop.

Post Falls Police and Liberty Lake Police assisted the sheriff's departments in the pursuit. The Neon which Gill was driving was reported as stolen in Washington.