Man held after wrong way chase on I-405

Published 12:01 am Tuesday, March 15, 2011

BOTHELL — A Tukwila man who drove the wrong way down I-405 Friday reportedly tried to slam into a police car along the way.

The man, 34, was trying to break into a Bothell-area home around noon Friday when the homeowner caught him and confronted him, according to a police affidavit filed in Snohomish County Superior Court.

The homeowner called 911, and deputies spotted the suspected burglar’s truck near 164th Street SE.

The man took off, leading sheriff’s deputies onto I-5 at speeds of up to 110 mph, records show. He then turned onto southbound I-405, going the wrong way at about 80 mph.

Two Bothell police officers were traveling on I-405 and said the man tried to drive into them. They veered away, and the pursuit was called off.

A sheriff’s deputy later found the man’s truck ditched in a Bothell parking lot.

Deputies blocked off an area near Crystal Springs Elementary School as they searched for the man, officials said. A police dog tracked him to a house just south of the school. He was caught about 2:45 p.m.

The man was being held Monday at Snohomish County Jail for investigation of vehicular assault, attempting to elude police and attempted residential burglary.

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