A Yacolt man was arrested and appeared in Clark County Superior Court on Monday after a Sunday night pursuit in which police say he tried to ram a police vehicle numerous times.
Troopers with the Washington State Patrol noticed a stolen silver Kia Sorento traveling south on Interstate 205 and onto eastbound state Highway 500 at about 11:45 p.m., Trooper Will Finn said.
Additional troopers waited for the vehicle near the intersection of 112th Avenue and Northeast 51st Circle, just south of the Gher Road offramp from Highway 500, and observed the Sorento leave the highway and go into a 7-Eleven parking lot, Finn said.
When troopers attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver increased speed, eluding troopers by heading south, Finn said. Court records show the fleeing vehicle reached speeds in excess of 100 mph, while at times traveling in 30- and 40-mph zones.
During the 4-mile pursuit, which lasted about seven minutes, the driver tried to ram a patrol vehicle numerous times, Finn said.
The fleeing vehicle struck a police vehicle, causing the air bag to deploy, and the driver intentionally locked up his brakes in an attempt to cause several collisions, according to court records.
Finn said that troopers stopped the vehicle near the intersection of Northeast Ponderosa Pine Avenue and Hearthwood Boulevard by using a pursuit technique that sends the vehicle into a spin.
Inside the car, police found methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and stolen property, court records said.
Authorities said they arrested the driver, Andre D. Kennedy, 40, on suspicion of attempting to elude police, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, second-degree assault, second-degree possession of stolen property, possession of a stolen vehicle, driving with a suspended license, possessing or making a burglary tool, possession of a controlled substance and second-degree burglary.
On Monday, Judge David Gregerson appointed the Vancouver Defenders to represent Kennedy and set his bail at $150,000. Kennedy will be arraigned Feb. 12.
Court records show that Kennedy has other pending cases in Superior Court for alleged drug possession and attempting to elude police. His total bail is set at $280,000 between the cases.
