Thurston County deputies arrested two suspected organized retail thieves Sunday after twin high-speed chases through Olympia and Lacey ended with the suspects abandoning their truck and fleeing on foot, only to be tracked down by a police dog and arrested at gunpoint near College Street.
Law enforcement learned Sunday that two organized retail theft suspects were traveling north on Interstate 5 from Lewis County after hitting multiple stores in a methodical scheme. The thieves would steal shopping bags from one retailer, then use those bags to walk out of other stores with stolen merchandise hidden inside, making it appear they had made legitimate purchases.
The pair had already struck Lacey three days earlier but escaped before deputies could apprehend them. When a Thurston County deputy spotted their truck on I-5 in Olympia Sunday, the driver fled before emergency lights even activated, triggering the first of two pursuits.
Deputies attempted a PIT maneuver to stop the fleeing truck but failed as the vehicle accelerated into downtown Olympia at dangerous speeds. Supervisors terminated the pursuit rather than risk civilian casualties from a crash. Minutes later, deputies spotted the truck leaving downtown and initiated a second chase.
The driver blew through intersections at high speed while heading toward Lacey, showing what the sheriff’s office called “extremely reckless behavior” that forced deputies to terminate the pursuit again. The decision reflects policies designed to prevent pursuit-related crashes from killing innocent motorists, though it also allows dangerous suspects to temporarily escape.
Deputies soon found the truck abandoned near College Street. A K-9 unit tracked the suspects through a nearby neighborhood, locating both walking through residential streets. Deputies took them into custody at gunpoint without incident.
The female suspect was turned over to Centralia police to face organized retail theft charges. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the truck and discovered thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise from numerous businesses throughout Lewis and Thurston counties. Deputies also found methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl inside the vehicle.
The truck contained one particularly disturbing modification. The driver had installed a custom smoking device built into the dashboard, allowing him to use drugs while operating the vehicle. Deputies obtained a search warrant for the driver’s blood to pursue DUI charges based on suspected impairment during the pursuit.
The driver’s criminal history demonstrates the revolving door of Washington’s justice system. He is a four-time convicted felon with theft-related charges, holds 27 misdemeanor convictions, and has been arrested 97 times previously. Sunday’s arrest marked his 98th time in custody. Despite this extensive record, he was free to commit more crimes rather than serving significant prison time.
As of Sunday night, he sat in Thurston County Jail facing DUI, eluding, and narcotics possession charges. Once released, he will face additional organized retail theft charges in Lewis County. The sheriff’s office did not release his name.
The case illustrates broader problems with organized retail theft rings that target stores across multiple counties, often using stolen vehicles and sophisticated tactics to maximize theft while minimizing detection. Such operations cost retailers millions annually and often fund drug habits or other criminal enterprises.
The suspect’s 98 prior arrests with minimal consequences raise questions about whether Washington’s criminal justice system adequately punishes repeat offenders or protects public safety. Despite nearly 100 arrests and multiple felony convictions, the suspect remained free to endanger lives during high-speed chases while impaired by drugs.
