The Sheriff Has A Joke Ready For The Mustang Driver Who Did 130 mph
Police called off a 130-mph pursuit, found the Mustang later, and seized it when the owner refused to cooperate
- Mustang driver hit 130 mph before deputies called off the pursuit for safety.
- Car found abandoned, owner refused to answer the door when deputies arrived.
- Sheriff jokes that the seized Mustang could be put into the police fleet.
It's tough to pin down exactly why individuals run from the police. Sometimes they're in a stolen car. Other times, they're simply fearful of the ticket in question. Police in Thurston County are now up a creek with an empty Ford Mustang as they try to figure out not just why a driver ran but who it was in the first place. The answer could completely change what the future looks like for the pony car in question.
According to the Thurston County Sheriff's Office, a deputy attempted to stop the Mustang GT for speeding, but the driver fled instead, blasting through intersections at speeds reaching roughly 130 mph (209 km/h). The deputy ultimately terminated the pursuit for safety reasons.
Read: Police Arrive To Find Driver Pinned Under Mercedes SUV
"The driver fled at speeds of 130 mph through intersections, resulting in our deputy making the good decision to terminate the pursuit," Sheriff Derek Sanders said on Facebook. Having seen how quickly a pursuit can go bad, this seems like a prudent move but it created another issue down the road. Officers later found the car abandoned in DuPont.
Who Was Behind Wheel?
When they tried to contact the registered owner at a nearby residence, the person inside allegedly refused to come to the door, and the vehicle was seized. "If you want your car back you can link up with us at 3491 Ferguson St SW in Tumwater, otherwise we'll put this one to good use in our fleet," Sanders joked. In other words, police believe the owner was behind the wheel.
If investigators can show the registered owner was driving, through witness statements, bodycam footage, license-plate readers, or other evidence, then charges such as reckless driving, eluding, or felony fleeing could follow. In Washington, attempting to elude police can be charged as a felony if the driver willfully fails to stop and drives in a reckless manner.
That said, simply owning the vehicle isn't enough on its own to secure a conviction, and cases can fall apart if officers can't positively identify the driver. That doesn't mean the seizure itself was improper.
Police can impound a vehicle connected to a crime, especially when it's part of an investigation or considered evidence. But what happens next depends on whether authorities can tie the high-speed run directly to the person who owns the
Context:
High-speed chase ended when deputies prioritized public safety over pursuit.
Context:
Vehicle seizures send strong message that reckless driving has serious consequences.
Context:
Washington state treats eluding police as a felony when done recklessly.