The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Mossyrock man Friday after a chase that began in rural Chehalis and ended in the Onalaska area, according to a news release.
The pursuit began Friday morning when a deputy observed an unauthorized vehicle traveling with active red and blue flashing lights. A traffic stop was initiated on Highway 603.
“The driver initially stopped but then fled as the deputy was approaching on foot. A pursuit was initiated and authorized,” the sheriff’s office stated in the release. “The pursuit was terminated and reinitiated multiple times, leading throughout the county. A successful PIT (pursuit intervention technique) was conducted in the 300 block of Shanklin Road, Onalaska.”
The driver, Justin Gootgeld, 25, Mossyrock, fled on foot from his vehicle and was arrested after allegedly fighting with deputies.
“This incident and pursuit covered approximately 80 miles,” the sheriff’s office stated in the release. “Our deputies did an excellent job continuously evaluating the circumstances and weighing the risk to the public. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the Washington State Patrol and the Napavine Police Department for their assistance.”
Gootgeld, who is on active Department of Corrections supervision, was booked into the Lewis County Jail for four counts of second-degree assault, two counts of attempting to elude a police vehicle, hit-and-run, resisting arrest, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, criminal impersonation of a police officer and DUI.
Gootgeld was also issued an infraction for operating a motor vehicle without insurance and is facing charges from the Washington State Patrol and the Department of Corrections. “Great teamwork to everyone involved!” the sheriff’s office wrote in the release.
