Police say the driver fled a South Hill Mall gathering with his 14-year-old brother and 16-year-old cousin in the SUV.
PUYALLUP, Wash. — A 19-year-old man was charged with trying to elude police after officers said he fled a vehicle gathering at South Hill Mall in an SUV carrying two juveniles and exceeded 100 mph before stopping at a nearby hotel.
Robert Manuali’i Toelupe was charged Tuesday in Pierce County Superior Court with attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle.
Puyallup police said officers were sent to the mall near JCPenney about 11:16 p.m. Sunday after receiving a report of a large vehicle gathering where several drivers were doing donuts.
As vehicles began leaving the parking lot, an officer said he saw a Chevrolet Suburban traveling quickly. The car charged past a stop sign and reached an estimated 50 to 60 mph in an area with a posted 10 mph speed limit.
The officer said the driver did not stop after police lights and a siren were activated.
The SUV then turned off its lights, passed another stop sign while leaving the mall and ran through a red light while driving away, according to the report.
Police said the Suburban later exceeded 100 mph, where the speed limit is 35 mph, and ran another red light.
The driver eventually slowed and signaled through the window that he was stopping, the report said.
The SUV then pulled into the parking lot of the Fairfield Inn on 15th Avenue Southwest, where officers detained the driver and passengers.
Police identified Toelupe as the driver. Two juveniles in the SUV were identified as his 14-year-old brother and 16-year-old cousin.
The Suburban was impounded, and Toelupe was booked into the Pierce County Jail.
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