Stolen vehicle catches fire during stop
A stolen asphalt truck burns along Interstate 90 between Ritzville and Sprague on Tuesday, Sept. 19, after being stopped using spike strips.
Firefighters put out the flames on a stolen state asphalt truck that caught fire on Interstate 90 on Tuesday, Sept. 19, between Ritzville and Sprague.
RITZVILLE - A West Richland man is facing multiple charges after allegedly stealing an asphalt truck from the state Department of Transportation's Washtucna shop Tuesday, Sept. 19, and leading law enforcement on a chase that ended miles away.
Lance Rogers, 31, was arrested and transported to a Yakima-area hospital after he was appreheneded following the pursuit that ended with the stolen truck catching fire.
He remained in custody at the hospital at press time. He is facing charges of first-degree robbery, three counts of first-degree attempted robbery, six counts of second-degree assault, theft of a motor vehicle, aiming/discharging firearms, third-degree malicious mischief, driving while under the influence, attempting to elude and second-degree assault, according to the Adams County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
"There are several different crimes that are being investigated," Sheriff Dale Wagner said via social media. "Investigators have multiple victims and witnesses to the incident."
The Washington State Patrol reported that the arrest stemmed from a 7:15 a.m. altercation on state Highway 26 near Washtucna in which a man - later identified as Rogers - fired a gun at a truck driver; a bullet struck a window.
The patrol then received a report that a state asphalt truck was stolen from Washtucna, records show. The suspect displayed a gun and fled north on state Highway 261 toward Ritzville.
Troopers located the truck northbound, records show, noting the driver pointed a gun at pursuing officers.
Rogers took the eastbound Interstate 90 on ramp and headed toward Sprague, records show. About 5 miles each of the ramp, troopers deployed a spike strip.
The strip popped the truck tires, but the driver, later also identified as Rogers, continued to drive on the rims, causing them to spark and catch the vehicle on fire, records show.
Rogers tried to escape from the passenger side of the truck, but was arrested about 8:10 a.m., records show, noting he was transferred to a Yakima hospital for related injuries. During a subsequent search of the truck, a handgun was recovered, records show.
Rogers is also a suspect "in multiple crimes including drive-by shooting," Wagner said.
The Sheriff's Office's K-9, Nado, was called in for the arrest, but did not bite the suspect, records show.
Wagner credited the partnership between his office, the State Patrol and Ritzville police for ending the pursuit quickly.
"Great work by all agencies," he said.
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