High speed pursuit through Cheney

The sound of many sirens filled the Cheney air last Thursday morning as a high-speed pursuit wound its way through the city before eventually terminating miles later east of Ritzville on Interstate 90 with the capture of two individuals.

According to a Washington State Patrol media release, at approximately 9:30 a.m. Aug. 25, Kalispel Tribal Police contacted a suspicious vehicle in a parking lot at Northern Quest Resort and Casino in Airway Heights. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as 49-year-old David Kathrens, was attempting to remove a license plate from another vehicle, and upon being contacted by Kalispel Police, attempted to flee.

In doing so, Kathrens' van, a 2015 Ford Transit, struck a Kalispel police vehicle and a pursuit began. Kalispel and Spokane County Sheriff Office units followed the van east on U.S. Highway 2 and down Sunset Boulevard to Spokane, where it turned right onto Maple Street and up the on-ramp onto Interstate 90.

State Patrol vehicles began pursuing the van at the top of Sunset Hill, with speeds reaching 90 – 100 miles per hour. Kathrens exited I-90 onto State Route 904 and continued at high speed to Cheney, turning right onto Betz Road and eventually Washington Street towards the Eastern Washington University campus.

The pursuit was terminated for safety reasons as Kathrens entered the campus at approximately 60-70 mph. Cheney Police Chief John Hensley was doing patrol work near Washington and Fifth streets when he heard Cheney Officer Matt Pumphrey radio he had picked up the pursuit near Roos Field.

"Before I knew it, Matt and the suspect flew by me," Hensley said.

Pumphrey pursued Kathrens as he attempted to elude them among Cheney streets, doubling back into town along Second Street, then left onto J Street, right onto Third Street and back to Second Street where Hensley caught up and joined the pursuit. The van was cutting corners at high speed, almost hitting one vehicle, and Hensley said they would have called off the chase if it had stayed among residential streets, but Kathrens took another left to First Street and right to head out of town.

State Patrol, Spokane County and Kalispel vehicles eventually joined the chase out of Cheney towards Tyler. An additional Cheney unit and two Eastern Washington University units were also involved, but terminated at the city limits.

The van continued through Tyler and onto the westbound I-90 on ramp where Hensley said he heard Spokane County dispatch tell their units to end the pursuit. Pumphrey and Hensley continued to pursue Kathrens onto I-90. Within 30 seconds of entering the interstate, Hensley said three State Patrol units joined and then passed them, at which point the Cheney officers ended their chase.

Troopers attempted to stop the vehicle with a spike strip, but were unsuccessful. Kathrens entered Adams County where again the pursuit was terminated as it passed through a construction zone.

After the van exited the zone, troopers successfully deployed another spike strip near the Tokio exit. State Patrol then used a Pursuit Immobilization Technique (PIT) to spin the vehicle into the median at milepost 227 east of Ritzville. Kathrens and his passenger, 49-year-old Regina Kathrens, did not immediately exit the vehicle upon stopping.

David Kathrens armed himself with a handgun and threatened suicide, but through negotiations, eventually surrendered and was taken into custody. The handgun was later determined to be a BB gun.

David Kathrens was booked into Spokane County Jail on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges including possession of stolen property, eluding, unlawful detention, reckless endangerment and some outstanding warrants. Regina Kathrens was booked into the Adams County Jail on an outstanding warrant.

No injuries were sustained as a result of the pursuit. Hensley said it was his first pursuit since 1991 when he was a patrol officer in Southern California.

"Considering the crimes he (David Kathrens) was wanted for, and what happened at the casino, the pursuit and apprehension was necessary," Hensley added.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].