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Reckless Suspect Escapes After Short Pursuit; Discarded Pistol Located
The Following Day, Suspect Apprehended After Another Pursuit Initiated in Idaho
A Spokane Valley Deputy responding to a suspicious vehicle/welfare check had the suspect, a possibly impaired driver, flee in a vehicle. With nowhere to go, the suspect turned around and collided with the Deputy’s marked patrol car while he attempted to stop the escape. After a short pursuit where the suspect drove at high speeds on residential roads, the Deputy, using caution and concern for the safety of others, lost sight of the suspect’s vehicle, and the pursuit was terminated. Later, Deputies retraced the pursuit route and recovered a loaded .22 caliber pistol in the road, believed to have been tossed from the fleeing vehicle.
The following day, Spokane Valley and Spokane County Deputies responded to assist Coeur d’Alene Trible Police, who were pursuing the same vehicle and entering Spokane County. Eventually, the car was successfully stopped near Rockford. The suspect and passenger were arrested and booked into jail.
On February 26, 2025, at approximately 8:20 am, a Spokane Valley Deputy responded to a suspicious vehicle/welfare check in the 10600 block of E. Baldwin Avenue. A caller reported that two subjects were slumped over in a gray Hyundai Sante Fe.
The Deputy arrived and observed an adult male in the driver’s seat and an adult female in the passenger’s seat. He also noticed what appeared to be a half-used pill with burnt foil near the center console, a sticky-type substance in a container near the driver’s door handle, and Q-tips commonly used to ingest illegal drugs. From his training and experience, the Deputy believed the pill contained Fentanyl and the other substance was possibly Heroin. With both subjects slumped over, the Deputy concluded both appeared to be under the influence of narcotics and called for additional Deputies to assist.
While waiting, the Deputy continued to observe and monitor the occupants. Unfortunately, when a bus drove by, it appeared its airbrakes made enough noise to wake them. In full uniform, the Deputy said hello and gestured with his hand that he wanted to speak with them. The female, later identified as 31-year-old Rowan N. Olson, unhooked her seatbelt and opened the passenger’s door. After finishing his stretch, the male driver, later identified as 32-year-old David L. Willems, looked at the Deputy, said something to Olson, and started the vehicle. Despite the Deputy saying “No.” and tapping on the window, Willems rapidly drove away with Olson still inside the car.
The Deputy advised Spokane Regional Emergency Communications (SREC) that the vehicle was fleeing as he ran to his patrol vehicle. With the road being a dead-end, Willems turned around and drove toward the Deputy, who tried to stop the escape, but Willems continued, causing a collision and minor damage to the Deputy’s bumper.
Now in pursuit, the Deputy advised Willems was driving at excess speeds, 40-60 mph, in a posted 25 mph zone and blew through a stop sign while actively trying to escape. With safety in mind, the Deputy ended up losing sight of the recklessly driven car, and the short pursuit was terminated.
Deputies began searching the area and retracing the path of the pursuit. A short time later, a Deputy driving the pursuit route found a loaded Bersa .22 pistol near the intersection of Sharp Avenue and Oberlin Road. Believing the loaded firearm was thrown from the car during the pursuit, it was seized as evidence. The Deputy also noted the serial number on the pistol had been removed.
Deputies also learned Willems and Olson had active misdemeanor warrants for their arrest.
On February 27, 2025, at approximately 8:25 am, Spokane County/Spokane Valley Deputies were advised that Coeur d’Alene Trible Police were attempting to stop the same Hyundai Willems had been driving. Deputies were told the pursuit was entering Spokane County, westbound toward Rockford, Washington.
Coeur d’Alene Trible Police updated that the vehicle was stopped near E. Hoxie Road and S. Harvard Road, and Spokane County/Valley Deputies arrived soon after. Willems and Olson were detained, and the Hyundai was seized pending a search warrant.
Willems was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Attempting to Elude a Police Vehicle and his unrelated misdemeanor Theft 3rd Degree warrant.
Olson was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for her misdemeanor DUI/Physical Control warrant. She was released later the same day on her own recognizance.
This investigation continues, and depending on the results of the search warrant, forensic testing, and the follow-up information learned, additional charges/arrests are possible.
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This Spokane County Sheriff Office news article "VIDEO: Reckless Suspect Escapes After Short Pursuit; Discarded Pistol Located" was originally found on https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=7