Police say the driver threatened an officer, hit a patrol vehicle window and later fled through Tacoma.
TACOMA, Wash. — Pierce County prosecutors charged a man after police said he threatened a Tacoma officer, fled from police and crashed into another vehicle during a pursuit.
Brandon Thomas Tradewell was charged Tuesday with seven counts tied to the May 31 incident: second-degree assault, two counts of felony harassment, third-degree assault, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, DUI and obstructing a law enforcement officer.
The second-degree assault and felony harassment charges include allegations that the offenses involved a law enforcement officer who was working at the time.
According to court documents, the incident began around 8:40 p.m. when a Tacoma police officer was stopped at a red light.
The officer reported seeing a 2013 Volkswagen Passat stop nearby.
The officer wrote that the driver yelled profanities, threats and flipped him off before making a brash U-turn and following the officer.
Police said the driver then stopped, got out and struck the passenger-side window of the patrol vehicle.
When the officer tried to detain him as he got back into the Volkswagen, police said the driver accelerated while grabbing at the officer’s arms.
The officer wrote that he had to step away from the moving vehicle to avoid being hit.
Police then chased the Volkswagen through parts of Tacoma. The officer initially lost sight of the vehicle, but another officer later found it, according to the reports.
The pursuit continued onto Pacific Avenue, where police said the Volkswagen ran a red light, a stop sign and then hit a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
One officer wrote that the force of the crash pushed the Jeep into a yard and bushes.
The Jeep driver told police he was having trouble breathing and that his back hurt. Tacoma Fire Department crews evaluated him, and he was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Police later wrote that doctors said he did not have broken bones, but he had pain in his chest, abdomen and back.
Tradewell was taken into custody at the crash scene. Police wrote that he made statements about being drunk after the crash.
As part of the DUI investigation, officers obtained a warrant for a blood draw. Police said a blood sample was taken at St. Joseph’s Hospital and submitted to the Washington State Patrol toxicology lab for testing.
The most serious charge, second-degree assault, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. The felony harassment, third-degree assault and attempting to elude charges each carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
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