Lake Stevens couple, jailed for abandoning kids, arrested again

MARYSVILLE — A Lake Stevens couple who abandoned their children in a decrepit house earlier this year have been arrested again, this time for a police pursuit involving a stolen car.

Amanda Foley and Mark Dorson were arrested Monday near Marysville. He’s under investigation for attempting to elude police, and both remained behind bars Thursday on suspicion of possessing a stolen car.

They reportedly were trying to take the tires and wheels off the stolen car not long before police caught up with them. Foley and Dorson, both 33, made headlines in February when Lake Stevens detectives found their three young children living in squalor without food, heat or a working toilet. The children were taken from them, and Foley and Dorson each were sentenced to six months in jail for misdemeanor abandonment.

It was not clear if the children were in state custody Thursday. Under state law, Child Protective Services can’t release information about the custody of children unless there is a child fatality or near fatality or there is a crime that related to a specific CPS case, officials said Thursday.

The new allegations against Foley and Dorson were not related to a CPS case, said Mindy Chambers, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Social and Health Services.

This week’s trouble started around 6 a.m. Monday, when a Chrysler Pacifica was reported stolen from 63rd Drive NE in Marysville. The owner of the car had left a phone inside, and was tracking the phone’s location, according to the arrest report.

Within about 15 minutes, the tracking system showed the phone was on Hilltop Road, between Marysville and Arlington. A Marysville officer spotted the car there and saw a man nearby. Upon seeing the officer, the man and another person climbed into a nearby Chevrolet truck and sped off.

A chase ensued, but the officer called it off when the Chevrolet reached speeds of 80 mph on 25 mph Hilltop Road. A short time later, the officer found the truck crashed into some bushes near the Centennial Trail. He could hear branches breaking as the two suspects tried to run away.

Eventually, police found the pair in the area of 67th Avenue NE and 132nd Street NE. Dorson reportedly was lying in a ditch and told the officers, “Take it easy on me!”

A tire jack was sitting alongside the Chrysler, and all of the lug nuts were missing, according to the report. The lug nuts allegedly were found in the Chevrolet.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Traffic idles while waiting for the lights to change along 33rd Avenue West on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood seeks solutions to Costco traffic boondoggle

Let’s take a look at the troublesome intersection of 33rd Avenue W and 30th Place W, as Lynnwood weighs options for better traffic flow.

A memorial with small gifts surrounded a utility pole with a photograph of Ariel Garcia at the corner of Alpine Drive and Vesper Drive ion Wednesday, April 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Death of Everett boy, 4, spurs questions over lack of Amber Alert

Local police and court authorities were reluctant to address some key questions, when asked by a Daily Herald reporter this week.

The new Amazon fulfillment center under construction along 172nd Street NE in Arlington, just south of Arlington Municipal Airport. (Chuck Taylor / The Herald) 20210708
Frito-Lay leases massive building at Marysville business park

The company will move next door to Tesla and occupy a 300,0000-square-foot building at the Marysville business park.

Everett
Red Robin to pay $600K for harassment at Everett location

A consent decree approved Friday settles sexual harassment and retaliation claims by four victims against the restaurant chain.

A Tesla electric vehicle is seen at a Tesla electric vehicle charging station at Willow Festival shopping plaza parking lot in Northbrook, Ill., Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022. A Tesla driver who had set his car on Autopilot was “distracted” by his phone before reportedly hitting and killing a motorcyclist Friday on Highway 522, according to a new police report. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Tesla driver on Autopilot caused fatal Highway 522 crash, police say

The driver was reportedly on his phone with his Tesla on Autopilot on Friday when he crashed into Jeffrey Nissen, killing him.

Janet Garcia walks into the courtroom for her arraignment at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Monday, April 22, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett mother pleads not guilty in stabbing death of Ariel Garcia, 4

Janet Garcia, 27, appeared in court Monday unrestrained, in civilian clothes. A judge reduced her bail to $3 million.

magniX employees and staff have moved into the company's new 40,000 square foot office on Seaway Boulevard on Monday, Jan. 18, 2020 in Everett, Washington. magniX consolidated all of its Australia and Redmond operations under one roof to be home to the global headquarters, engineering, manufacturing and testing of its electric propulsion systems.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Harbour Air plans to buy 50 electric motors from Everett company magniX

One of the largest seaplane airlines in the world plans to retrofit its fleet with the Everett-built electric propulsion system.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Driver arrested in fatal crash on Highway 522 in Maltby

The driver reportedly rear-ended Jeffrey Nissen as he slowed down for traffic. Nissen, 28, was ejected and died at the scene.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Mountlake Terrace in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
3 charged with armed home invasion in Mountlake Terrace

Elan Lockett, Rodney Smith and Tyler Taylor were accused of holding a family at gunpoint and stealing their valuables in January.

PAWS Veterinarian Bethany Groves in the new surgery room at the newest PAWS location on Saturday, April 20, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Snohomish hospital makes ‘massive difference’ for wild animals

Lynnwood’s Progressive Animal Welfare Society will soon move animals to its state of the art, 25-acre facility.

Traffic builds up at the intersection of 152nd St NE and 51st Ave S on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Here’s your chance to weigh in on how Marysville will look in 20 years

Marysville is updating its comprehensive plan and wants the public to weigh in on road project priorities.

Mountlake Terrace Mayor Kyko Matsumoto-Wright on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
With light rail coming soon, Mountlake Terrace’s moment is nearly here

The anticipated arrival of the northern Link expansion is another sign of a rapidly changing city.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.