Two suspects arrested after high-speed pursuit

After a citizen called in a couple of suspicious men trying to prowl or steal a vehicle in Longview, WA, Cowlitz County Sheriff’s deputies arrested two men.

Around 2:20pm, a call came in to Cowlitz 911 of two men trying to get into a parked vehicle. When a citizen asked them if the vehicle belonged to them, they jumped into a Green Subaru Legacy Stationwagon and sped away. The citizen provided a license number to dispatch which returned to a vehicle stolen out of Vancouver.

Longview Police spotted the vehicle but lost it a short time later. A Cowlitz County Sheriff’s deputy then spotted the vehicle running a red light at Industrial Way and California Way. The deputy pursued the vehicle at 100+ mph east on Tennant Way to Old 99 where the vehicle headed south. The vehicle went through the school zone at Carrolls School in excess of 70 mph.The vehicle continued to I-5 southbound towards Woodland where the responding deputies lost sight of it in the heavy rain and road mist.

Searching the area where it was last seen headed towards, a deputy was contacted by some citizens who pointed out two men in a parking lot near another car. The Subaru was parked next to it. The deputy exited his vehicle and ordered the suspects out of the vehicle at gunpoint. The men ignored the deputy, drove the newly stolen car into a ditch and were stuck. Jumping back into the Subaru they drove off, striking another vehicle while leaving.

Another short pursuit ensued when the Subaru struck a vehicle head-on at the intersection of Goerig and Atlantic, disabling the stolen car and seriously injuring the driver of the victim vehicle. She was transported to an area hospital with neck injuries and a possible broken arm.

The driver of the stolen car, identified as 25 year old Jeffrey Christie, residence unknown, jumped out and attempted to get into a passing vehicle but the driver wouldn’t allow him. Christie then ran west towards Woodland where he was chased by deputies and Tased to stop him. He was taken into custody without further incident.Christie also had a DOC warrant for Felony Eluding.

The passenger in the stolen car, 52 year old Bob Baumgarten, residence unknown, was taken into custody without incident.

Both Christie and Baumgarten are being treated at St. John Hospital and will be booked into jail in lieu of $150,000.00 on charges of Possession of Stolen Property (vehicle), Felony Eluding, Taking a Motor Vehicle Without Permission and Attempted Carjacking. Other charges may be added as the investigation continues.

The Sheriff’s Office is being assisted by Woodland Police and Washington State Patrol.