Spokane Valley Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 34-year-old Orion S. White for several charges Sunday evening after he fled in a vehicle and on foot. K9 Gunnar helped locate White who now faces charges of Attempting to Elude a Police Vehicle, Reckless Driving, Driving while Suspended and Possession of Stolen Property.
This incident began Sunday November 6, 2016 at approximately 7:30 p.m. when Spokane Valley Sheriff’s Deputy Covella and K9 Deputy Jason Hunt arrived to investigate a suspicious vehicle parked in a parking lot located in the 4900 block of East Sprague in Spokane Valley. An employee reported a male had been sleeping in a Toyota Tundra parked in the business’ parking lot for several hours. The employee provided a license plate and stated the male was possibly intoxicated or high.
When the deputies arrived, they observed a male, later identified as White, sitting in the driver’s seat of the Toyota with the engine still running. White’s head was tilted back and he appeared to be sleeping. They knocked on the window to gain his attention and instructed White to turn the vehicle off. White opened his eyes and looked at Deputy Covella. White hesitated and appeared to be in a daze or possibly under the influence before removing the key from the ignition but the vehicle continued to run. White appeared to become extremely nervous and began looking around as the deputies began to suspect the vehicle might be stolen. Deputy Covella started to open the driver’s door to have White exit the vehicle but White slammed the door, put the vehicle in reverse and began to back up rapidly. Deputy Hunt jumped out of the way as White turned toward his direction before speeding away.
The deputies ran back to their patrol cars and gave chase, with their lights and sirens on, as White fled southbound on Chronicle at a high rate of speed with his lights off. White continued to try and evade and turned west on 3rd from Havana, traveling the wrong way on the one-way road. The deputies slowed down and they tried to warn approaching traffic of White’s extremely dangerous and reckless driving. White turned onto the eastbound I-90 on ramp and fled out of sight.
As the deputies tried to catch up to White, a citizen pointed toward the Broadway exit. Several patrol units began checking the area for the vehicle. Deputy Covella eventually located the unoccupied Tundra parked on Cataldo east of Bowman Road. A perimeter was quickly established as Deputy Hunt and his K9 partner Gunnar began to search for White. Gunnar led the deputies to the fenced area near I-90 at the Park Road overpass where they observed White hiding in the tall grass. They gave White commands to surrender and he was taken into custody with the assistance of a Washington State Patrol Trooper. He was identified and deputies learned his driving privileges were suspended and he had an active warrant for his arrest.
After being advised of his rights, White told deputies he fell asleep in his truck because he was tired and he fled because he knew he had a warrant for his arrest. White was in possession of a laptop and a small suitcase. Deputies checked the serial number on the laptop and learned it had been reported stolen during a vehicle prowling on the evening of October 19, 2016. White said the Tundra he was driving belonged to a male who was driving White’s vehicle. The vehicle had not been reported stolen and the registered owner was unable to be contacted to verify White’s story.
White was transported and booked at the Spokane County Jail for Attempting to Elude a Police Vehicle, Reckless Driving, Driving with a Suspended License, Possession of Stolen Property 3rd Degree and the misdemeanor warrant.
The Spokane Valley Police Department and Spokane County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind everyone to document serial numbers on electronics or valuables in the event of theft. This is an example of how providing serial numbers of stolen items allows deputies to identify victims, return their stolen property and charge suspects for being in possession of it.