Suspect arrested after pursuit

PLUMMER — Four flattened tires slowed a vehicle chase suspect enough to be arrested on Sunday night after a vehicle chase started in Idaho and went into Washington.

Austin M. Bailey, 19, of Spokane Valley, was arrested for eluding, obstructing and resisting arrest. The chase originated in the Worley area on the Idaho side around 11 p.m. and ended on Highway 27 north of Rockford, Wash.

"(Coeur d'Alene Tribal Police) reported someone in the vehicle had fired toward their patrol unit in Idaho before the pursuit crossed over into Washington," said Deputy Mark Gregory of the Spokane County Sheriff's Office.

A female passenger denied either of them firing a weapon at the Coeur d’Alene tribal officer. She told law enforcement personnel that she told Bailey to stop and pull over during the pursuit.

Heather Keen, spokeswoman for the Tribe, said an officer attempted to pull Bailey over in Plummer.

"Tribal Police initiated the stop when the car’s driver-side tires crossed over the center yellow lines," Keen said. "Prior to that, the officer had observed the car idling at the center of an intersection, then moving, then stopping again in the middle of the road."

When the stop was attempted, Bailey allegedly took off in his car at a high speed.

Spokane Valley Police, the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, Spokane Police, Liberty Lake Police and the Air 1 helicopter responded to the call after the tribal officer reported the pursuit had crossed into Washington.

Spike strips were successfully deployed near Rockford as Bailey continued north on Highway 27 around 80 mph, according to the sheriff's office. The pursuit speeds dropped considerably once three of the four tires went flat after being spiked.

Deputies could see at least two occupants in the vehicle and could see cigarettes being discarded from the vehicle as Bailey continued to flee at 10 to 20 mph, Gregory said.

The fourth tire eventually was successfully spiked and went flat in the area of Highway 27 and Jackson as the suspect continued to travel north on Highway 27.

Deputies continued to give verbal announcements throughout the pursuit via the PA system, advising Bailey to stop and that he was under arrest, but Bailey continued to try and evade arrest.

With Bailey’s continued alleged disregard for everyone’s safety and the need to terminate the dangerous situation, a Spokane County responder moved in and successfully performed a vehicle maneuver causing the suspect vehicle to spin and hit the guardrail.

With the suspect car safely immobilized, Air 1 arriving overhead and sheriff’s office and Spokane Police K9 units at the scene, Bailey and the adult female passenger followed commands and were taken into custody without further incident.

Before asserting his right to remain silent, Bailey told deputies he didn’t stop because he didn’t have a license and didn’t want to go to jail. The passenger stated she wouldn’t answer any question regarding Bailey.

The vehicle was impounded and a search warrant was applied for and granted. Deputies recovered a BB-style replica handgun and drugs in the vehicle during the search.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible.

Air 1 video can be viewed at https://youtube/H3epC8ljcMs.