Chase suspect eludes deputy Receipt in abandoned vehicle being used to ID suspect

POST FALLS — An allegedly reckless driver who led a deputy on a chase on Interstate 90 and through Post Falls on Wednesday night remained on the loose Thursday afternoon.

Kootenai County Sheriff's Office Lt. Ryan Higgins said a deputy attempted to pull over the male driver around 8:30 p.m. in the westbound lanes of the freeway in Post Falls.

"He plowed through the median and turned around to head eastbound," Higgins said.

A chase ensued, and the suspect drove south on Spokane Street and West Riverview Drive. The deputy discontinued the pursuit on winding Riverview.

"The vehicle was located at the end of a dead-end road (South Old Creek, off Riverview), so a K-9 unit that was working at the fair responded and attempted a track but was unsuccessful," Higgins said. "The dog tracked him for quite awhile."

The identity of the driver was unknown during the pursuit.

A fresh receipt from a Jifi Stop in Coeur d'Alene was found inside the vehicle.

"Deputies are following up on trying to identify the driver through surveillance," Higgins said. "We have a possible suspect, but need verification."

Higgins said the person of interest does not have any warrants. It appears one occupant was in the vehicle.

Some residents nearby had a front-row seat as the action unfolded.

"A cop car raced by my house chasing a black pickup, then four more cop cars and two more a couple minutes later," a resident along Riverview texted to The Press.