Stolen Car Suspect Arrested, Over 9 Ounce of Meth Recovered
Last night, a suspect in a stolen vehicle refused to stop and fled from a Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy. The ensuing pursuit ended near Maxwell and Maple after the tires of the vehicle went flat due to a successful spike strip deployment. A Taser was used to end a foot pursuit with the suspect, later identified as 30-year-old Trevor J. Mclaughlin. Deputies recovered over nine ounces of Methamphetamine (estimated street value of $18,000) in a container that fell to the ground when Mclaughlin fled on foot.
On February 25, 2018, at approximately 6:20 p.m., Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Humphrey checked the license plate of a beige Kia on his mobile computer near the intersection of Maple and 4th Avenue. The return showed the vehicle had been reported stolen on February 23rd.
He continued to follow the vehicle which was occupied by two male occupants as additional Deputies and Spokane Police Officers responded to assist. Mclaughlin began making turns while maintaining speeds under the posted speed limit as Deputy Humphrey continued to follow without his emergency lights activated.
With additional patrol cars now behind him to assist, Deputy Humphrey activated his emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop as Mclaughlin turned east on 14th Avenue. Instead of pulling over, Mclaughlin immediately accelerated.
With no pedestrian or vehicle traffic, at speeds near 25 mph, Deputy Humphrey moved into position to attempt a PIT maneuver and safely end the pursuit. Mclaughlin slammed on his brakes and turned directly in front of the Deputy’s patrol vehicle. Deputy Humphrey applied his brakes but contacted the rear of the Kia with the push bars. Due to the heavy braking and very low speed, the impact only caused the rear of the Kia to move slightly and allowed Mclaughlin to escape.
Mclaughlin turned north across the Maple Street Bridge where Spokane Police Officer Mark Brownell successfully deployed spike strips causing the two front tires to deflate.
Just south of Maxwell on Maple, Mclaughlin stopped the vehicle quickly, jumped out, and fled on foot. As he did, Deputy Humphrey observed a container fall on to the ground. Deputy Jerry Moffett, who was assisting, stayed with the vehicle, the container, and detained the passenger with the aid of additional units.
Deputy Natalie Woolard, also in the area assisting, caught up to Mclaughlin on foot, near Maxwell and Ash. After several commands telling Mclaughlin to stop running and advising that he was under arrest, Deputy Woolard successfully deployed her Taser. Mclaughlin fell to the ground where he continued to resist but was eventually placed in handcuffs by Deputy Woolard, Deputy Humphrey, and assisting Spokane Police Officers.
When he fell to the ground, Mclaughlin hit and cut his head. He was provided medical attention at the scene and transported to a local hospital for further evaluation and observation.
Deputy Humphrey returned to the stolen vehicle and recovered the container he observed fall on the ground when Mclaughlin ran. Inside he found two baggies containing a large amount of a crystalline substance. The substance was later field tested which showed a presumptive positive result for Methamphetamine. The Methamphetamine was weighed and showed a cumulative total of over nine ounces with an approximate street value of $18,000.
The vehicle was seized as evidence and a search warrant was obtained. In the subsequent search, scales, hypodermic needles, and other drug paraphernalia were recovered.
The passenger was not charged and was later released at the scene.
This afternoon, Mclaughlin was booked into the Spokane County Jail for Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver, Attempting to Elude a Police Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle and Resisting Arrest.
The Spokane Regional Safe Streets Task Force (SRSSTF) will continue this investigation.
The Spokane Regional Safe Streets Task Force in comprised of investigators from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Spokane Valley Police Department, Spokane Police Department, Washington State Department of Corrections, U.S. Border Patrol, and the FBI. The SRSSTF is a FBI sponsored task force working to alleviate the criminal activities of gangs, violent criminals, and upper level drug traffickers.
