Passengers were not injured
SPOKANE VALLEY – A local man is facing multiple charges after attempting to flee from police Dec. 11.
Chandler K. Barton, 24, was booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of attempting to elude law enforcement, two counts of unlawful imprisonment, driving while under the influence, two counts of reckless endangerment and second-degree driving while license suspended.
Barton was arrested after a Spokane County Sheriff’s Office deputy spotted an unlicensed Audie run a red light at the intersection of Sprague Avenue and University Road, records show. The driver, later identified as Barton, initially stopped when a deputy pulled him over.
But as the deputy approached the door of the Audi, Barton fled at a high rate of speed, records show, noting the deputy eventually broke off pursuit because of safety concerns.
Speeds reached more than 80 mph, records show.
As the pursuing deputy broke off pursuit, another deployed spike strips, records show. Barton hit the strips and the vehicle was disabled in a driveway in the 3300 block of South Bowdish Road.
Barton fled on foot, but eventually surrendered, records show. A K-9 unit was called in to help locate Barton.
Meanwhile, deputies found two passengers in the vehicle; the names of the man and woman have yet to be released by police.
The couple was detained while deputies search for Barton and used a loudspeaker to call on him to surrender, records show. Eventually, deputies learned Barton had entered the home where his car was disabled.
Barton’s family members encouraged him to surrender peacefully, records show.
According to the passengers, Barton was giving them a ride home when police initiated the traffic stop, records show. They told Barton to stop and let them out, but he refused.
After his arrest, Barton spoke with an attorney and provided a breath sample showing blood-alcohol levels of .115 and .122, both above the legal limit in Washington state.
A check of Barton’s criminal history shows he had one prior DUI and a suspended license, records show.
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, columnist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
Reader Comments(0)