On June 9, at 5:33 am, deputies were dispatched to an armed robbery that had just occurred at a convenience store in the 15200 block of Meridian E in South Hill. The employee reported that three black males robbed him at gunpoint and then fled southbound in a newer, white Kia Soul.<\/p>\n
A deputy spotted the vehicle headed southbound at 224th St E and Meridian E and followed it. He initiated a traffic stop but the vehicle fled. Since armed robbery is a pursuable offense, the deputy chased after the suspects. The pursuit continued southbound on Meridian (SR-161) and into Eatonville, where deputies lost sight of the vehicle due to the curves.<\/p>\n
Several minutes later, a deputy located the vehicle in Eatonville and the driver backed into his patrol car. Deputies deployed stop sticks, which the suspects\u2019 vehicle it, and the pursuit resumed northbound on SR-161.<\/p>\n
The suspects crashed at Orville Rd E, just south of Ohop Lake, and they fled on foot.
\nOne suspect, a 16-year-old male, was quickly located and arrested. A K9 track was initiated to locate the other two suspects.<\/p>\n
The K9 tracked the suspects across a creek and through several residential properties. One of the residents told deputies that a suspect was in her yard and asked her to call his mom because police were chasing him.<\/p>\n
Deputies continued searching the area and located articles of clothing that the suspects wore during the robbery.<\/p>\n
At 8:18 am, the K9 located the suspects, a 16-year-old male and a 15-year-old female, in a residential area near 414th St Ct E and 120th Ave Ct E. According to neighbors, they had been asking for a ride out of the area. They had taken off most of their clothes and were soaking wet. Deputies requested medical aid due to concerns of hypothermia.<\/p>\n
The K9 conducted an evidence track and located the suspects\u2019 wet clothes.<\/p>\n
All three juvenile suspects were booked into Remann Hall.<\/p>\n
Upon further investigation, we learned that a fourth suspect fled from the vehicle after it crashed. He was spotted walking along the road near SR-161 and Ohop Creek Dr N. Eatonville officers detained him, and a witness positively identified him as one of the suspects. He was arrested and, since he is 18, he was booked into the Pierce County Jail.<\/p>\n
During the few minutes that deputies lost sight of the suspects in Eatonville, they attempted to steal a Kia. The car\u2019s rear window was smashed and the ignition had significant damage.<\/p>\n
The Prosecutor’s Office charged all four suspects. The18-year-old male was charged with robbery in the first degree, and bail was set at $150,000. Two 16-year-old males and one 15-year-old female were charged with robbery in the first degree, taking a motor vehicle without permission, and obstructing. They were all ordered to be held in secure detention.<\/p>\n