Man Arrested After Fleeing From Police In Stolen Vehicle Near Peshastin

A Westside man is in jail after police say he fled from them in a stolen vehicle in Chelan County on Monday morning.

The Washington State Patrol says troopers attempted to pull over an SUV on U.S. Highway 2 near Peshastin at around 9 a.m., but the driver refused to stop and fled.

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Slick roadways and snowy weather conditions prompted troopers not to pursue the SUV, which was later discovered wrecked on U.S. Highway 97 about a mile up Blewett Pass.

Troopers say the vehicle had crashed into and damaged Washington State Department of Transportation property and the driver had fled the scene on foot, leaving a rifle inside the SUV.

Deputies from the Chelan County Sheriff's Office were called into assist and used a K9 unit to locate the driver, 19-year-old Stephen Demore Thomas of Kent, and get him to surrender without incident.

Thomas was booked into the Chelan County Regional Justice Center on charges including possessing a stolen vehicle and stolen firearms, drug possession, and hit-and-run.

The incident closed a portion of State Route 97 for approximately 30 minutes.