Olympia, Washington: A repeat offender arrested for the 98th time is in the Thurston County Jail after leading deputies on a high-speed chase reaching 100 miles per hour through city streets following a multi-county organized retail theft spree, Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders announced this week.
The incident began on March 22, 2026, when deputies received information from another agency that two theft suspects were heading northbound on Interstate 5 into Thurston County after stealing merchandise from stores in Lewis County. A deputy spotted the suspects’ truck on I-5 near Olympia. Before the deputy even activated emergency lights, the truck fled.
Deputies initiated a pursuit. Dashcam footage released by the sheriff’s office shows the suspects’ vehicle driving at high speeds, running red lights, and weaving through intersections in downtown Olympia and the Lacey area. An attempted PIT maneuver was unsuccessful. Out of concern for public safety, deputies terminated the pursuit as the vehicle fled deeper into residential and commercial areas.
The truck was later found abandoned near College Street. A K9 track was initiated, and deputies located both suspects walking through a nearby neighborhood shortly afterward.
The male suspect was taken into custody and booked into the Thurston County Jail. According to Sheriff Sanders, the driver is a four-time convicted felon with numerous theft convictions and 27 misdemeanor convictions.
His new arrest marks the 98th time he has been taken into custody.
Inside the vehicle, investigators found thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise. They also recovered methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl. Deputies reported finding a custom-built bong embedded in the vehicle’s dashboard, which they said appeared designed to allow the driver to use drugs while operating the vehicle. A blood draw warrant was sought in connection with a DUI investigation.
The male suspect faces charges of DUI, attempting to elude law enforcement, and possession of narcotics in Thurston County. Additional charges of organized retail theft are expected in Lewis County following his release from the Thurston County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office. The female suspect was turned over to Centralia Police in connection with a separate theft case. As of the time of reporting, neither suspect’s name had been publicly released by the agency.
