Suspect Flees in Stolen Semi Tractor and Trailer
Spokane Valley Deputies assisted by Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies and Spokane Police Officers arrested 38-year-old Daren A. Suiter after he fled in a stolen semi-tractor and trailer. Suiter faces several charges of Possession of Stolen Property, Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Eluding a Police Vehicle, and Attempted Assault 1st Degree.
On December 8, 2016, at approximately 11:30 a.m., two alert citizens reported seeing a Walmart trailer pulled over in the 3100 block of North Colman in Spokane Valley. They observed two males unloading items from the trailer into a white pickup truck before both vehicles left the area.
Spokane Valley Deputy Rob Cunningham located the semi-truck and trailer in the area of Argonne and Empire and attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver, later identified as Suiter, did not stop and instead he began to accelerate in an attempt to elude Deputy Cunningham.
The pursuit continued westbound on Upriver Drive at approximately 55-60 mph. As Suiter entered into the City of Spokane, Spokane Police Officers attempted to deploy spike strips and began blocking intersections to warn the public of the approaching pursuit. In the area of Frederick and Upriver Drive, Suiter began crossing into oncoming lanes of travel as he reached speeds of approximately 70 mph. Suiter continued his extremely reckless and dangerous driving and swerved toward Spokane Police Officers as they blocked traffic forcing them to quickly move out of the way to avoid being hit.
In the area of Division and Buckeye, Suiter’s driving became so alarming, the pursuit was terminated. Suiter continued driving eastbound on Buckeye as deputies pulled over.
With several patrol units from multiple agencies in the area, the semi-truck/trailer was located a few minutes later where it had crashed through a fence, hit a parked car and then hit a detached garage near Helena and Dalton. Citizens witnessed Suiter flee on foot after the crash and were able to inform deputies of his description and direction of travel.
A perimeter was quickly established and Corporal Thurman and his K9 partner Laslo were called to the scene to try and locate Suiter. K9 Laslo began searching for Suiter and led deputies and officers to a residence in the 1500 block of East Dalton where Laslo located Suiter hiding in a garage.
Suiter was taken into custody and provided medical treatment for the K9 contact.
Deputies later learned the Walmart trailer was stolen from the Airway Heights Walmart earlier this morning around 5:00 a.m. and the tractor used to steal the trailer was stolen from a parking lot near Broadway and I-90 in Spokane Valley sometime last night. Neither had been reported as stolen at the time this incident began.
Air 1 was called out to assist during the pursuit and captured video just after Suiter was taken into custody and of the crash scene. Video can be viewed on the Sheriff’s Office YouTube Channel at https://youtu.be/bzVuC6NVxLI
Suiter was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of Attempting to Elude a Police Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle (2 counts), Attempted Assault 1st Degree (4 counts), Vehicle Hit and Run, Property Damage Hit and Run and a misdemeanor theft warrant.
Thankfully no citizens, deputies or officers were hurt during this incident. Thank you Citizens for helping Spokane Valley Deputies, Spokane Police Officers, Air 1 Flight Crews, Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies and K9 Laslo as they worked together to ensure Suiter’s capture.
This investigation is active as investigators work to identify the driver of the white pickup involved as well as locate the items stolen from the trailer.
Crash Scene Photos
