CENTRALIA – Centralia police say an officer fired shots in self defense after a stolen car suspect rammed a police cruiser during a police chase in Centralia Thursday.
Police say 32-year-old Joshua A. Fitchhorn of SeaTac, Wash., was arrested on investigation of first-degree assault and stolen property following the pursuit.
On Thursday afternoon, officers responded to a stolen vehicle report and quickly spotted the car. When they attempted to pull over the car, the suspect sped off. At an intersection, the suspect rammed the police officer and in response the officer fired two shots at the car.
The chase continued, but the suspect dumped the car and fled on foot. The officer in pursuit was injured during the chase. A K-9 unit and SWAT team were called in.
Fitchhorn was arrested soon after.
