A tense police standoff at the end of a pursuit closed Interstate 5 near Dupont as a suspect with a warrant allegedly assaulted a trooper and later surrendered.
DUPONT, Wash. — A police standoff involving a wanted suspect shut down northbound Interstate 5 near the Nisqually River Bridge early Thursday morning before ending with an arrest, according to authorities.
The Washington State Department of Transportation said all northbound lanes were initially blocked near milepost 114.86 at the south end of the bridge beginning around 12:32 a.m. because of police activity. All lanes have since reopened before 2 a.m.
According to Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders, the incident began when a Washington State Patrol trooper attempted to take a suspect with a warrant into custody on I-5. During the encounter, a fight broke out and the suspect allegedly assaulted the trooper before fleeing in a vehicle.
The trooper then pursued the suspect and performed a PIT maneuver, bringing the vehicle to a stop and shutting down the freeway.
Sheriff Sanders said deputies, K9 Asher, and officers with Lacey Police Department responded to assist. A passenger exited the vehicle, but the suspect remained inside, ignored commands, and shut the door.
Police then used a drone and observed the suspect attempting to restart the vehicle without success. Authorities said the rear window was broken out using a less-lethal 40mm launcher before pepper balls were deployed into the vehicle.
“The suspect lasted about 15 seconds once the spice was introduced,” Sanders said, adding the suspect then surrendered and was taken into custody.
The suspect was booked on multiple charges, including felony eluding, reckless endangerment, and resisting arrest.
Authorities also said a husky inside the vehicle, that was friendly, was not harmed during the incident.
The suspect had an extraditable warrant for driving under the influence out of Seattle, according to Washington State Patrol.
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