Teen arrested crashing stolen car led to hours-long search in North Spokane | Spokane News

SPOKANE, Wash. – A multi-car crash in north Spokane led to the arrest of a teenager following a chase with police.

On May 27, Spokane County Sheriff's deputies responded to a crash with injuries at the intersection of West Lyons Avenue and North Calispel Street.

The driver, a 17-year-old, was traveling at speeds in excess of 50 mph on a residential street at 25 mph just before the collision.

While running through stop signs, the teen hit an occupied white 2016 Kia Soul and then continued, colliding with an unoccupied blue 2010 Ford Focus.

The van the teen was driving had three other teenage passengers who did not cooperate with police in providing information and were taken to the hospital with injuries.

Police worked with witnesses and victims to establish a perimeter and describe where the teen may have gone.

They began a perimeter search with K9 units and drones, tracing his location to a nearby yard.

K9 units spotted a pile of wood near a shed in the yard as the teen's possible hiding place and issued several warnings advising the teen to surrender. The teenager surrendered after several warnings from law enforcement and was taken into police custody.

In accordance with Washington state law, the teen was not questioned by police. However, after checking his criminal history, it was revealed that the teenager had two convictions for theft and assault.

Officers contacted the owner of the vehicle the teen was driving and discovered the owner had let the teen sleep in the car, but told him not to drive it because he did not have a license.

The owner then informed the police that he wanted to report the car as stolen and would press charges.

The teen was arrested on two counts of assault, hit-and-run and theft of a motor vehicle. The driver of the Kia suffered minor injuries and was not taken to hospital.

According to the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, the incident remains under investigation.