A fleeing driver in Bonney Lake Thursday morning ran over his passenger in an attempt to elude police during a pursuit through Bonney Lake and into Pierce County.
The passenger was treated at the scene, but refused further medical treatment and was not transported to the hospital.
According to a police report, an officer on routine patrol attempted to stop an erratic driver in the 19800 block of 100th Street East at 3:06 a.m.
As police tried to pull over the vehicle, the driver attempted to flee the scene and officers joined the pursuit as the vehicle left the city limits, crossed into unincorporated Pierce County and seemingly attempted to lose the officer while showing a “wanton disregard to the safety of others,” according to the report.
As the pursuit entered the 20500 block of La Paloma Drive, just south of South Prairie Road, police saw the passenger side door open and a female passenger jumped from the truck while it was traveling at an estimated 35 mph.
According to the police report, the woman fell to the road and was then dragged with the truck for an instant before letting go and rolling on to the side of the road.
As she rolled away, the rear passenger-side tire of the truck seemed to roll over her right leg and apparently caused a substantial injury. As police approached, however, the passenger stood up and walked to the side of the road.
The suspect vehicle turned on to another street, drove through a yard and then looped back around to La Paloma Drive. The driver then abandoned the truck and fled on foot.
The officer exited the vehicle to pursue on foot and heard a crash as the suspect vehicle rolled into his police cruiser, causing minor damage.
A K-9 unit was called to the scene and tracked the suspect to the edge of a pond in the neighborhood. As police began to search the shore of the pond, the suspect announced himself and stood up from the weeds in the pond.
During a search, police found a glass narcotics pipe, a marijuana pipe, a small plastic bag commonly used for narcotics and a small glass vial with an oily substance in it. The suspect refused to tell police what was in the vial and because the plastic bag was in the water with the suspect, police were unable to identify if it contained any drugs.
He was arrested and booked into Pierce County Jail on charges of vehicular assault, felony eluding, reckless driving and possession of drug paraphernalia as well as driving with a suspended license and failure to transfer vehicle title within 45 days.
The female passenger told police she exited the vehicle of her own choice and was treated for minor injuries at the scene by East Pierce Fire and Rescue, but refused further treatment.
