Kent Robbery Suspect Escapes After Car Crash In Fife: WSP

FIFE, WA — A strong-arm robbery in Kent turned into a chase on Interstate-5 that ultimately resulted in a two-car crash, injuring two people, according to Washington State Patrol. To add insult to the two non-life-threatening injuries, the robbery suspect escaped four law enforcement agencies, including a K9 team.

WSP Trooper Johnna Batiste on Wednesday said Kent police were dispatched to a reported robbery at a Metro PCS store just after 10:30 a.m. After locating the suspect, Kent police reportedly initiated a pursuit that took them to I-5, heading south until around South 320th Street in Federal Way.

At the same time, WSP troopers at the King-Pierce county line were investigating an unrelated traffic incident on southbound I-5 when they spotted the suspect's vehicle heading recklessly their way, Batiste said.

A trooper got in behind the suspect and attempted to stop him, but the suspect reportedly continued his freeway escape.

Around I-5 and 54th Avenue East in Fife, the suspect crashed into another vehicle, Batiste said, noting two people were inured and required an ambulance ride to hospital.

After the chase-ending collision, the suspect reportedly bailed from the vehicle and fled on foot into the Blue Dog RV parking lot.

At that point, Batiste said, a Lakewood police K9 team joined the pursuit and helped establish a containment around the RV lot before attempting to track the suspect. The K9 search, however, was unsuccessful, Batiste said.

The suspect, who at this time remains at large, is described as a black man with dreadlocks and a goatee. He was reportedly wearing a red sweatshirt and black shorts at the time of the robbery.