A man accused of leading police from Airway Heights to downtown Spokane in a high-speed car chase that ended with him leaping into the Spokane River from the Division Street Bridge has been identified.
Casey R. Gillette’s bond was set at $60,000, according to Spokane County Superior Court documents.
In the wee hours of the morning on Friday, Aug. 9, Airway Heights police attempted to pull over Gillette for a routine traffic offense. Gillette refused to stop and instead drove up to 30 mph over the speed limit and losing at least one tire, according to police.
Gillette’s girlfriend, identified in court documents as Melissa Buchheit, was nine months pregnant and a passenger during the pursuit until the car stopped at the Division Street Bridge, at which point Gillette exited the vehicle and jumped into the river, attempting to hide in bushes along the riverbank.
Early police reports indicated the fall may have “shattered his heel” or otherwise damaged his foot and ankle. He was soon arrested without further incident.
Buchheit reportedly told police that she did not feel like she was being held hostage despite asking Gillette to let her out of the vehicle more than 10 times, according to court documents.
Those documents indicate the bond amount set by a Spokane County Superior Court judge was influenced by Gillette’s other alleged crimes that took place in June, including burglary and motor vehicle theft.
Shannen Talbot can be reached at shannen@cheneyfreepress.com.
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