SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane County deputies performed a PIT maneuver Friday night to end a high-speed chase after a man driving a stolen vehicle refused to stop and led officers through city streets at speeds up to 55 mph, according to Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.
Jose C. Nunez, 37, was arrested after the pursuit ended when his vehicle spun into the median and collided with an SUV on North Market Street. The chase began around 10 p.m. after an automated license plate reader detected stolen plates near North Regal Street and East Magnesium Road.
Deputies had been searching for the vehicle since 9:30 p.m. when the first alert came in. The license plates had been stolen earlier that day from a victim’s car in Spokane, and investigators discovered they had been placed on a black 2011 Hyundai reported stolen from Moses Lake on Sept. 4.
When deputies located the vehicle with help from SCSO’s Air 1 helicopter, Nunez initially slowed down as if to stop, but suddenly accelerated to 45-55 mph.
He disregarded stop signs and speed limits during the pursuit, which covered several streets, including Francis Avenue, Decatur Avenue and Pittsburg Avenue before ending on Market Street.
After his arrest, Nunez told deputies he didn’t stop because he had an outstanding warrant. He later said the chase reminded him of a video game called “Driver” and that evading police was one of the “top five most fun moments” of his life.
His female passenger, who repeatedly asked to be let out during the chase, was released without charges after deputies determined she was a victim of false imprisonment. No one was injured in the collision with the SUV.
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