Man Crashes Into Light Pole After Police Chase Ends In Spokane V - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

UPDATE: Man Crashes Into Light Pole After Police Chase Ends In Spokane Valley

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OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE FROM THE SPOKANE VALLEY POLICE DEPT: On Thursday, January 24th just before 2:15 a.m., Spokane Valley Sheriff's Deputy C. Sciortino observed a 1995 Honda Accord, with one male occupant, in front of his marked patrol vehicle as they traveled northbound on McDonald from Broadway Avenue. 

Deputy Sciortino checked the vehicle's license plate on his in-car computer and received notification it was reported stolen from Ephrata Washington on 01/23/2013. As he moved closer to confirm the license plate number again, the driver accelerated heavily reaching speeds of 50 mph on McDonald as he tried to evade Deputy Sciortino who had activated his lights and siren.
 
With other vehicle traffic very light at this time of the morning, the pursuit continued east on Mission and south on Sullivan Road reaching speeds of up to 60 mph.
 
The driver lost control of the vehicle as he traveled south on Sullivan, south of Sprague Avenue and struck a light pole stopping in the northbound lanes of Sullivan. The driver exited the vehicle and ran southbound. 
 
Deputy N. Bohanek caught up to the suspect, after a short foot pursuit, as he tried to scale a chain-link fence east of the 200 block of S. Sullivan Road.
 
The suspect, later identified as 33-year-old Matthew S. Pennucci, was taken into custody by deputies without further incident. During a search after his arrest, deputies located a vial containing a white crystalline substance in his front pants pocket. The substance was tested and showed a presumptive positive reading for methamphetamine.
 
Pennucci was treated and released by medical staff and transported to the Spokane County Jail. He was booked for Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Attempting to Elude and Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine). He was also charged with the following misdemeanors: Obstructing a Peace Officer, Hit & Run (Unattended Property) and Driving While License Suspended 3rd.

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KHQ.COM - A man was arrested on Thursday morning after leading police officers on a chase in Spokane Valley. It's not clear where the chase started but we do know police chased him to the Walgreens at Sprague and Sullivan in Spokane Valley where he spun out on the icy roads and hit a light pole. The suspect is now in custody facing multiple charges.

Authorities tell us that the car, which is a Honda Accord, was stolen out of Ephrata.

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