East Wenatchee police defuse dangerous situations in two separate Friday incidents

EAST WENATCHEE — East Wenatchee police officers interrupted a suspected drive-by shooting and, in a separate case hours later, used spike strips and a PIT maneuver to stop a fleeing DUI driver, Chief Rick Johnson said.

The first call came Friday, Oct. 17, near Eastmont Park, where witnesses reported a confrontation involving people in gang attire flashing signs and a possible shooting about to occur. The group left before officers arrived, but East Wenatchee PD and Douglas County deputies quickly located a suspect vehicle in the 100 block of 9th St. NE.

Three occupants — ages 16, 17 and 19 — were taken into custody. Officers recovered three firearms; two were concealed on the suspects, and one pistol had been reported stolen out of Grant County. The 19-year-old was booked on suspicion of driving while license suspended 2nd degree and making false statements to a public servant. The 17-year-old was booked on suspicion of unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, and on a felony warrant for the same offenses. The 16-year-old was booked on suspicion of unlawful possession of a firearm and resisting arrest. No shots were fired and no injuries were reported.

Later the same day, officers responded to an injury crash at SR-28 and 3rd St. SE. A witness told 911 the at-fault driver fled. Officers spotted the suspect vehicle leaving the Hobby Lobby parking lot and initiated a stop; the driver refused to yield. Police deployed spike strips, deflating the vehicle’s tires, then executed a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) to bring the car safely onto the shoulder. A 44-year-old driver was taken into custody without further incident and arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run (attended), DUI, and failure to yield to a police vehicle. A breath test registered a 0.15 BAC, nearly twice the legal limit.

The coordinated work by responding officers and deputies prevented possibly serious violence at the park and stopped an impaired driver before anyone else was hurt. Charges will be referred to prosecutors.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media