Wenatchee man sentenced to 7 years

WENATCHEE — The Wenatchee man who rammed his vehicle into two police vehicles was sentenced to 84 months in prison.

Steve A. Irland, 37, pleaded guilty on Jan. 5 in Douglas County Superior Court to attempting to elude a pursuing a police vehicle, two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture or deliver, three counts of second-degree assault and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

When Irland was arrested on Nov. 1, police say he would not get out of his vehicle and he attempted to pull out of his driveway and rammed a police and one unmarked police vehicle.

In an attempt to arrest Irland, detectives bashed the back windshield and almost broke the drivers side window when the suspect exited his vehicle and surrendered. But while turning himself in, Irland attempted to flee on foot, but was caught after about 100 feet, according to authorities.

In the vehicle, police found a stolen electric bike, a pistol-grip shotgun, AR-15 rifle, approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills, fentanyl powder, illegal mushrooms among other items, according to a Columbia River Drug Task Force news release.

As part of the plea deal, Irland pleaded guilty to eluding police on a previous incident on Sept. 12, saying that he “drove in a reckless manner.” Police say he eventually abandoned his vehicle on Sunset Highway.

Judge Brian Huber sentenced Irland to 84 months, or seven years, in prison.