PASCO, WA – A car thief who made a series of poor decisions Tuesday night is now behind bars after a multi-agency pursuit ended with a successful PIT maneuver near Touchet.
The trouble began around 8:50 p.m. when Kennewick Police reported a vehicle had just been stolen. The suspect, 31-year-old Jake Long of Kennewick, was reportedly getting comfortable in the stolen vehicle when he drove it across the Blue Bridge into Pasco—his first of several critical mistakes.
The vehicle’s rightful owners were actively tracking it and soon located it parked in a lot. When they approached, Long allegedly reversed the car and struck one of them. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported.
Pasco Police officers quickly responded and spotted the vehicle speeding from the scene. When the driver refused to stop, officers initiated a pursuit that continued eastbound on Highway 12. The chase passed through Burbank and the area near the Walla Walla River, ending just outside Touchet.
Washington State Patrol troopers joined the effort, deploying spike strips that deflated the vehicle’s tires. A Pasco officer then performed a PIT maneuver to stop the car safely. Long was taken into custody without further incident.
He was booked into the Franklin County Jail on charges of first-degree assault, possession of a stolen vehicle, and felony eluding.
Pasco Police praised the joint effort, noting that “teamwork makes the dream work” and crediting fast-thinking officers and troopers for the safe resolution.
No further injuries were reported.