Suspect Believed to be Impaired Attempts to Flee and Wrecks
Last night, near Pines and Trent, the driver of a vehicle failed to stop for a Spokane County Sheriff’s deputy and accelerated initiating a pursuit. The suspect lost control of the vehicle on Montgomery east of Dartmouth and wrecked. The adult male driver and passenger, both wanted and well known to law enforcement, sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
On April 25, 2021, at approximately 11:25 pm., Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy Catherine Horton attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a gray Saturn on Pines near Trent due to her observations of his poor driving pattern and belief the driver might be impaired. The driver, later identified as 27-year-old Jacob A. Woodward, slowed but then continued south on Pines at a high rate of speed.
Deputy Horton advised dispatch she was in pursuit with the driver fleeing and little or no traffic on the roadway. Several Spokane County and Spokane Valley Deputies began to respond to the area to assist.
Ignoring traffic lights and signs, Woodward continued to flee. Now traveling west on Montgomery, east of Dartmouth, Woodward lost control of the vehicle, slid sideways, and overcorrected, striking boulders and a fence before coming to rest.
Deputies immediately approached the demolished car and provided medical attention to Woodward and his adult male passenger until Spokane Valley Fire and AMR personnel arrived.
Both occupants were transported to the hospital for serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
A check of Woodward’s name revealed an active felony Washington State Department of Corrections warrant.
The passenger also had a felony warrant for his arrest.
Traffic Unit Investigators were called to process the scene and collect items of evidentiary value due to the extent of injuries and seriousness of the crime. Drug paraphernalia was found and collected at the scene.
SIRT Volunteers also responded to assist with traffic control, freeing up Deputies to respond to calls for service.
Woodward remains hospitalized and continues to receive treatment. A search warrant to obtain a sample of Woodward’s blood was granted, and the sample was placed into evidence for testing. Woodward potentially faces new charges of Vehicular Assault, Attempting to Elude a Police Vehicle, and DUI in addition to his felony warrant.
The passenger was not arrested and continues to receive medical treatment at the hospital. He still faces charges stilling from his warrant.
This investigation is ongoing, and additional charges are possible.
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