Serial Crime Wave: Near 100 Arrests for Theft, Drugs, and High-Speed Pursuits

In Washington state, a habitual offender with close to 100 arrests finds himself incarcerated once again after leading law enforcement on a perilous pursuit following a spate of retail thefts spanning several counties.

Law enforcement officials have shared footage that captures both the high-speed chase and the apprehension of the suspect.

According to authorities, this marks the suspect’s 98th arrest. He is accused, along with an accomplice, of pilfering thousands of dollars in goods from various stores, employing stolen bags from one outlet to aid in shoplifting from others.

Deputies identified the suspects’ vehicle traveling along Interstate 5 near Olympia. However, before they could pull it over, the driver accelerated, prompting a high-speed pursuit.

Dashcam footage from the police shows deputies in hot pursuit of a pickup truck, with the chase escalating to speeds exceeding 100 mph before the suspects abandoned the vehicle and escaped on foot.

Video from the pursuit captures deputies calling out speeds topping 100 miles per hour as the truck raced toward downtown Olympia.

Officers attempted to stop the vehicle but called off the pursuit when the driver began racing through city streets and intersections, putting others at risk. 

A second attempt was also halted for safety reasons as the suspect continued driving recklessly toward Lacey, at times running red lights at speeds near 80 mph, according to radio traffic.

Bodycam video shows a deputy taking aim as a suspect stands with hands raised following a high-speed chase through a neighborhood. (Thurston County WA Sheriff’s Office)

A short time later, the truck was found abandoned near College Street.

Authorities say the suspects ran from the vehicle toward a nearby neighborhood and in the direction of an elementary school, prompting a search.

A K9 team tracked them down minutes later.

Video shows deputies confronting the suspects at gunpoint, repeatedly ordering them to “show me your hands” and “keep walking backwards” before both were taken into custody.

Police video shows the suspect walking with hands on his head before deputies take him into custody moments after a 100 mph chase. (Thurston County WA Sheriff’s Office)

Inside the vehicle, investigators say they found thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise, along with meth, heroin and fentanyl.

Deputies also discovered what they described as a custom-built bong embedded in the dashboard, allegedly allowing the driver to use drugs while behind the wheel.

A suspect arrested for the 98th time is seen surrendering at gunpoint after a high-speed chase, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. (Thurston County WA Sheriff’s Office)

Authorities say they obtained a warrant to test the driver’s blood as part of a DUI investigation.

The suspect, a four-time convicted felon with dozens of prior convictions and 97 previous arrests, now faces charges including DUI, attempting to flee from police, and drug possession.

He is expected to face additional organized retail theft charges in Lewis County once released from the Thurston County Jail. The second suspect was turned over to another police department in connection with a separate theft case.

In a statement, the sheriff’s office highlighted the suspect’s history and the outcome of the arrest:

“Tonight, he is back in jail for the 98th time on charges of DUI, eluding, and possession of narcotics,” Sheriff Derek Sanders wrote in a post. “Nice work by deputies and dispatchers to get some career criminals into custody… again.”

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.