Suspected car thieves arrested after wild chase on I-90

September 17, 2016 12:14 AM

Site staff,

Posted: September 17, 2016 12:14 AM

Updated: December 20, 2019 2:38 AM

by Site staff

Suspected car thieves arrested after wild chase on I-90

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Two suspects were arrested following a car pursuit that originated in Post Falls Idaho, and ended at Pines and I-90 in Spokane Valley on Thursday.

The chase initiated at 6:45 p.m. when law enforcement officers from surrounding areas were called in the pursuit a stolen vehicle that was heading into Spokane County from Post Falls. The chase involved Spokane Valley Sheriff’s Deputies, Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies and Liberty Lake Police Officers

According to officials with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, the pursuit continued to westbound I-90 until Sullivan Road where the driver, Amber M. Vazquez, 28, exited but continued to flee on the surface streets before reentering I-90 westbound again.

As Vazquez attempted evade capture, her husband, Adolfo D. Vazquez, 32, broke the rear window out of the stolen van and threw a gas powered weed trimmer, metal rakes, gas can and other items onto the roadway. Sheriff’s officials say this act caused an extreme traffic danger to both pursuing vehicles, and the motoring public.

Deputies say they continued to moved onto I-90 in an attempt to safely end the pursuit. During that time, Adolfo Vazquez leaned half way out of the window and threw a metal shovel and an axe at the patrol cars, which caused deputies to take evasive maneuvers to avoid being struck.

Amber Vazquez took the Pines exit and lost control of the vehicle causing it to slide off the roadway into a dirt field. At that point, Amber and Adolfo Vazquez jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot. Spokane Valley Sheriff’s Deputy Hunt and his K9 partner Gunnar quickly exited their patrol vehicle. After several announcements K9 Gunnar would be used if the pair didn’t stop were ignored, Deputy Hunt deployed K9 Gunnar. K9 Gunnar quickly caught Adolfo who was taken into custody.

Deputy Hall of Spokane County caught Amber as she continued to run. She was then taken into custody.

The pair were transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for their charges in Washington. Amber faces charges of Attempting to Elude, Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Obstructing and Driving while Suspended. Adolfo was charged with Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Assault 2nd Degree (2 counts), Reckless Endangerment, Obstructing and Resisting Arrest.