Police pursuit ends in crash, arrest

A police chase that started near Kent this morning and ended at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma resulted in a one arrest and the seizure of drugs.

The pursuit started around 9:15 a.m., when a State Patrol trooper tried to stop a 23-year-old Lakewood, Pierce County man near Highway 516 for speeding. The man swerved his Ford Explorer toward the motorcycle officer and kept driving south on Interstate 5, said State Patrol spokeswoman Brandy Kessler.

Kessler said the suspect drove across all lanes and onto the shoulder before leaving the freeway at 320th Street. The driver then headed back onto I-5 and almost struck a state Department of Transportation worker. The Explorer driver then lost control of his vehicle, clipped a pickup and crashed in a ravine, Kessler said.

The man then jumped out of the Explorer and ran into the casino, Kessler said. The driver was arrested for investigation of assault, eluding and drug possession after troopers found marijuana in his car, Kessler said.