Man arrested after chase

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

POST FALLS — A man who allegedly led police on a vehicle chase from Post Falls to Spokane Valley on Friday night was arrested on multiple charges following the ordeal.

Shane Allen Lee, 19, of Newman Lake, Wash., was charged with eluding, resisting, obstructing, burglary, reckless driving and petit theft.

Lee allegedly took off around 9:45 p.m. while a police officer was investigating a shoplifting case at the Walmart on Mullan Avenue allegedly involving Lee.

Lee allegedly left the store's parking lot "at a high rate of speed and entered recklessly onto Mullan Avenue, continuing eastbound," a Post Falls Police report states.

While the officer stayed with an acquaintance of Lee's, Ryan Rea, who was on felony probation, backup units chased Lee.

The pursuit went westbound on Interstate 90 into Washington, reaching speeds between 90 and 100 mph, according to police.

At one point, drivers of other vehicles veered into the median or shoulder to avoid being struck, the report states.

Lee allegedly exited at the state line before continuing back onto the freeway into Washington.

Spike strips were deployed to slow the Chevy Silverado truck in the Liberty Lake area and, shortly thereafter, a responding officer reported two of its tires were blown out.

"The back of the truck was sliding from side to side and the speed reduced considerably to approximately 40 mph," the report states.

The truck exited at Indiana in Spokane Valley and headed northbound on Sullivan Road.

The pursuit ended on a narrow rural road on a hill.

"The truck was driven down into an area of thick brush and small trees and I saw the driver jump out and run away from the driver's side of the truck," an officer wrote.

A K9 deployed to chase Lee on foot caught the suspect. Lee continued to resist despite commands by police not to, according to police.

An officer said Lee was punched twice in the ribs and twice in the face in an attempt to stop him from fighting with the K9. The officer was eventually able to grab Lee's right hand and get it behind his back to where another officer could place him in handcuffs.

Lee was treated for wounds from a K9 bite.

Lee told police he and Rea were at the Walmart to meet up with friends before heading out of town. He said Rea would give him $100 to walk out of the store with a cart full of items.

Lee also said his uncle was at the store to give him money for fuel, but his uncle left after police arrived because he had warrants.

"Shane stated that he fled the scene based on what (his uncle) told him to do," the police report states. "Shane said because he was driving a truck registered to his uncle, and (his uncle) having warrants for his arrest, (the uncle) told him to not stop if officers were behind him."

Rea told police he and Lee went separate ways in the store and the two met at the truck in the parking lot afterward. He assisted Lee in loading merchandise Lee allegedly stole from the store, and told police he believed the items were purchased by Lee.

Rea was trespassed from Walmart and taken home by an officer.