Court records say a tracking device helped officers find the Honda after it was stolen while idling outside an apartment.
LAKEWOOD, Wash. — A man has been charged after Lakewood police said a stolen Honda was tracked to a McDonald’s parking lot, driven away from officers and crashed into a parked box truck.
On Monday, Pierce County prosecutors charged Lopez Darnell E.L. Griffin Jr. with theft of a motor vehicle, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, obstructing a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest.
The incident occurred Friday when officers were called to an apartment complex in the 7200 block of 150th Street Southwest.
Police said a Honda Civic had been left idling outside an apartment when it was stolen.
According to the police report, surveillance video showed a person walking up to the car, getting inside and driving away.
Officers learned the business that sold the Honda could track the car and an employee showed officers the Honda moving through the area.
The tracking updates eventually led police to the McDonald’s on Solberg Drive Southwest in Lakewood.
Police said a man matching the description from the theft video walked up to the car and got into the driver’s seat.
When an officer activated emergency lights and drove toward the Honda, the officer wrote that Griffin “looked directly at me through the window” before driving off through the parking lot.
Officers said the driver ran red lights near the Interstate 5 ramps, drove into oncoming traffic and nearly caused a crash before leaving the road.
The car went over a sidewalk, down a grassy slope and hit a parked box truck at 12001 Pacific Highway Southwest, according to the police report.
Police said Griffin got out of the Honda and ran through nearby parking lots, where officers followed him on foot before he was taken into custody.
After Griffin was advised of his rights, an officer asked where he got the car. Police said Griffin answered, “I don’t understand,” and later said, “I drive a white car.” When asked again why he ran, police said he replied, “the voices, they were taking it.”
Police said Griffin was taken to a hospital for evaluation before being booked into the Pierce County Jail.
The Honda was later returned to its owner.
To ensure diverse coverage and expert insight across a wide range of topics, our publication features contributions from multiple staff writers with varied areas of expertise.
