SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — EDITOR'S NOTE: The video above is from a previous story regarding a high-speed chase in Spokane County.
Spokane County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a driver who attempted to evade Idaho law enforcement after trying to collide with two marked Idaho State Police patrol vehicles Friday night.
At about 7:45 p.m., deputies responded to a request for assistance by Idaho State Police Troopers pursuing a suspect vehicle in Kootenai County. The suspect intentionally tried to hit two marked patrol vehicles, initiating a pursuit, according to the sheriff’s office.
The suspect got on Highway 53 headed toward Spokane County then entered the county on Trent. Spokane County deputies picked up the pursuit on N. Argonne near Bigelow Gulch, the sheriff’s office said.
Additional deputies successfully deployed spike strips near Bruce and Peone, causing the driver, identified as Colleen M. Burgess, 51, to stop her vehicle near the 1300 block of N. Bruce, authorities said. According to the sheriff’s office, Burgess exhibited significant signs of what appeared to be mental health issues and refused to communicate with deputies or follow their commands.
The suspect had music turned up extremely loud, with the vehicle running as she sat inside her car and ignored deputies’ commands, according to the sheriff’s office. The roadway was closed as deputies continued efforts to de-escalate the situation, not knowing if the suspect was armed or if she would drive away.
Without any progress and after an extended period of time, an arrest team approached the suspect and sprayed pepper spray through the driver’s side window, the sheriff’s office said. After about five minutes, the suspect opened the driver’s door and swung her legs outside, but continued to ignore commands, according to the sheriff’s office.
The suspect then attempted to move back inside the car and close the driver’s door, deputies said. The arrest team quickly moved up and deployed a Taser that was partially effective.
Deputies were able to remove her from the car, and took her into custody at the Spokane County Jail without further incident.
Burgess is expected to face Idaho charges for two counts of aggravated assault on law enforcement and attempting to elude law enforcement. In Spokane County, she faces charges of attempting to elude a police vehicle and resisting arrest.