Eluding Suspect’s Attempt to Bluff His Way Past Deputy Unsuccessful - Charged with 3 New Felonies, a Felony Warrant and 2 Misdemeanors
A suspect, and convicted felon, attempted to elude a Spokane Valley Deputy in a vehicle late Saturday night. After he fled from the vehicle, he attempted to mislead a Deputy on the perimeter but was unsuccessful. He was booked into jail for three new felony charges to include Eluding, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver, Unlawful Imprisonment and a felony warrant.
On October 6, 2018, at approximately 11:45 p.m., Spokane Valley Deputy Michael Sullivan observed a small 4-door vehicle, occupied by two people, traveling south on Pines from Broadway at a high rate of speed. The vehicle turned west on Alki without using a turn signal and continued driving at speeds in excess of the posted speed limit.
Deputy Sullivan got behind the vehicle and activated his emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop. Instead of stopping, the driver later identified as 23-year-old Brandon O. Powell, did not stop as required. Deputy Sullivan activated his siren but Powell continued, driving at speeds estimated at 40-50 mph in the residential area. With no pedestrian or vehicle traffic in the area, Deputy Sullivan advised dispatch he was in pursuit of the vehicle. Powell continued to disobey traffic signs, speed limits and multiple traffic laws as he attempted to evade the Deputy. Deputy Sullivan lost sight of the vehicle in the area of Broadway and University a short time later while multiple patrol units flooded the area to assist.
Soon after, a citizen reported seeing two people flee on foot from a 4-door vehicle which was just parked near the intersection of Cataldo/Van Marter. Deputy Travis West responded to the area and located the vehicle as reported. Believing this was the vehicle that fled, Deputies quickly setup a perimeter and K9 announcements were made. Deputy Sullivan arrived and confirmed it was the vehicle Powell was driving.
A “Bill of Sale” was located listing the purchaser as “Brandon Gruce” in addition to another form which had the name “Brandon O. Powell”.
At about the same time, Deputy Samuel Turner observed a shadow of a person cross a fence near Pierce and Broadway as he held his position on the perimeter. In the area of Broadway and Bowdish, Deputy Lorenz Mina, also part of the perimeter, observed an adult female walking in his direction. Just behind the female, Deputy Kullman advised he and his partner K9 Khan had been tracking toward the female’s location. Deputy Mina detained the female and learned she had been a passenger in the vehicle.
Approximately 10 minutes later, Deputy Turner observed a male, later identified as Powell, emerge from between two houses near his location. Powell said, “Hey, a guy just ran from my yard though the church parking lot! He was hiding under my deck!” and continued walking eastbound, attempting to pass Deputy Turner’s location. Deputy Turner observed Powell was sweating profusely despite the cool, 50 degree temperatures and his clothes were dirty and still had department store stickers on them. Surmising Powell appeared to possibly be the suspect attempting to mislead him instead of a homeowner who was just awoken in the middle of the night, Deputy Turner advised Powell he was not free to leave.
When Deputy Turner asked for his physical address, Powell stated “Oh, it’s my buddy’s house, I don’t know the address.” Powell verbally identified himself as “Brandon A. Gross”. While checking this name via his radio, he was advised Deputies at the suspect’s vehicle located paperwork with a similar name. Powell was detained and during a frisk for weapons, Deputy Turner located a set of keys in the Powell’s pants pocket. Deputy Turner asked to empty the contents of Powell’s pockets and he said, “Well (expletive) it! Ya, I’m going to jail anyways!” The set of keys matched the manufacture of the suspect vehicle and were later determined to be the keys for the vehicle.
Powell was advised of his rights. During a complete search, a driver’s license confirming Powell’s identify was located in addition to 10 smaller blue baggies, each containing a small amount of a black tar like substance Deputy Turner recognized as Heroin. A field test of the substance showed a presumptive positive result for Heroin.
While in the back of Deputy Turner’s patrol car, Powell bragged about eluding Deputy Sullivan. Deputy Turner reminded Powell he was in custody and just admitted to driving the vehicle and Powell said, “(Expletive) you! Ya, I did it! Maybe next time I’ll have a gun and shoot all ya’ll (expletive)!”
A check of Powell’s name revealed a felony Washington State Department of Corrections warrant (original charge-Conspiracy for Possession of a Controlled Substance-Dangerous Drugs) and that his driver’s license was suspended. Deputies also learned Powell was a 4-time convicted felon and had multiple misdemeanor convictions.
The detained female was interviewed and she stated she told Powell to stop several times and wanted to get out of the vehicle during the pursuit but Powell refused. She was not charged with a crime and released.
Powell was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Attempting to Elude Law Enforcement, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Heroin) with Intent to Deliver, Unlawful Imprisonment, Providing False/Misleading Statements and Driving While Suspended 3rd Degree.