Spokane Valley police arrest suspect accused of ramming patrol cars in pursuit

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Spokane Valley deputies arrested a suspect after he ran into patrol cars and police chased after him.

A Spokane Valley deputy saw a silver Chrysler 300 parked in the Walmart parking lot at 15727 E. Broadway Avenue. The deputy said the vehicle matched the description of one involved in past reckless driving instances without regard for public safety.

The vehicle was registered to 28-year-old Dylan Cassotta, who was suspected of being the driver during those instances, committing a burglary and second-degree theft.

The deputy called for other patrol units to help. The car began to head toward the exit but stopped as deputies were cutting off the driver from exiting the parking lot.

One patrol car hit the bumper of the Chrysler to avoid it from fleeing. Police say the Chrysler then moved forward and hit a patrol car, later backing up and hitting another car.

Deputies followed Cassotta as he was driving west on Broadway, and officers used a pursuit intervention technique (PIT) and spike strips to help slow down the car near Broadway and University.

Cassotta turned on University and was heading south toward Sprague. Police say they saw him run through a red light at around 60 mph, continuing south on University. The sergeant at the intersection pulled behind Cassotta and continued following him.

Police say Cassotta then drove into oncoming travel lanes and through another red light at 4th Avenue, continuing to 8th avenue. At 8th Avenue, police say Cassotta turned his lights off, weaving through cars at Bowdish.

Cassotta eventually turned east on Sprague, and then onto Pines, and turned into the parking lot on the northwest corner of Sprague and Pines before going north on Pines in the southbound lanes. Police say Cassotta’s car eventually spun over a curbed median, but he was able to get control of his car and tried keep going.

He was eventually stopped by another PIT maneuver, according to police. Cassotta and a female passenger were taken into custody.

Cassotta was charged with second-degree assault with probable cause. He was also charged with attempting to elude a police vehicle, two counts of second-degree malicious mischief, second-degree criminal trespass and second-degree reckless endangerment.

Police also added a second-degree theft charge. Cassotta’s car was taken away from him as well.

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