Seattle man is charged in police chase involving stolen semi

A 42-year-old man with a criminal history that includes 38 arrests, 25 bookings and 49 warrants can add another round of legal troubles to his résumé.

Thomas Wayne Kennedy, of Seattle, was charged Tuesday in King County Superior Court with one count of possessing stolen property and one count of attempting to elude police officers after he fled from police in a stolen 1984 International semi-tractor, according to the charges.

Its owner reported the semi as stolen sometime at the end of June. A friend of the owner spotted a man driving the semi July 12 and called police, who sent marked patrol cars to the vehicle's location on Fourth Avenue South in Seattle, according to charging documents.

Seattle police and Washington state troopers say Kennedy fled, leading them on a 50-minute chase through traffic and construction zones on a route from Airport Way South onto Interstate 5, onto and off of Highway 520, Interstate 405, Highway 522 and back onto I-405 before being brought to a stop in Bellevue.

Kennedy's convictions include several for taking a motor vehicle without permission, burglary, possessing stolen property, driving under the influence, assault, theft and refusal to cooperate.

He is being held on $250,000 bail in King County Jail and is scheduled to be arraigned July 24.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com