Man is sorry he risked the life of his unborn child, others

Published 1:30 am Monday, August 20, 2018

MARYSVILLE — The stolen Honda came within a few feet of striking a Marysville police officer before blowing through stop signs and red lights and swerving into oncoming traffic on its way to I-5.

Once on the freeway and headed south late Thursday night, it reached speeds estimated at 95 mph.

After taking the exit onto Marine Drive on the Tulalip Indian Reservation, the Honda blasted through more stop lights and was still reaching speeds estimated at 90 mph.

After the car finally pulled over, what police found inside also was alarming. Drug paraphernalia, including syringes, tie offs and cotton were strewn about the vehicle’s interior. A woman who’d been in the passenger front seat told officers that the driver was her boyfriend and the father of her unborn child. The woman, 26, said she is four months pregnant and has been using heroin, police wrote in a report.

The driver — a Woodinville man, 27 — was arrested for investigation of possession of a stolen vehicle, attempting to elude and third-degree assault for allegedly using the vehicle as a weapon for the close call with the police officer. He was booked into the Snohomish County Jail.

The pursuit began after police responded to a burglary complaint. A woman called 911 after reporting seeing someone on her property via a video surveillance system.

Soon thereafter, police tried to stop the car.

The suspect’s girlfriend said he “freaked out” when he saw an officer because he knew there was a warrant for his arrest, according to court records.

She said the driver finally stopped the car after she threatened to jump out.

The suspect insisted that he had not tried to hit the police officer.

He also “expressed remorse for putting so many motorists’ lives in danger, including his passengers and unborn child,” court papers said.

Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.