Suspect Steals Vehicle in Wenatchee, Crashes Near Leavenworth

An unidentified suspect stole a car from the MEGA car dealership on Wenatchee Avenue Friday around noon, setting off a chain of events that would result in an accident outside of Leavenworth.

Soon after the call for the stolen vehicle came out, a Chelan County Sheriff's Office unit found itself behind the suspect vehicle. The unit continued pursuit until the suspect vehicle stopped on its own.

The driver eventually fled, and made a series of maneuvers heading westbound on Highway 2. The unit lost sight of the suspect vehicle around the Big Y interchange and contact was broken.

Sergeant Dan McCue said, "We started getting calls coming in after contact was broken that an individual tried to car-jack at least one other vehicle from another citizen. At that time we had calls coming in that the vehicle was parked along (Highway 2). So a unit recontacted the vehicle, but was unable to get the vehicle to stop. Maybe about a half mile later he crashed right in front of Safeway in Leavenworth."

The suspect was transported to Central Washington Hospital and later the Chelan County Jail while the sole occupant of the other vehicle in the crash was taken to Cascade Medical Center with minor injuries.

The suspect was charged with attempted robbery in the 2nd degree, taking a motor vehicle without permission, and vehicular assault.