A Spokane Valley Sergeant who activated his emergency lights to turn around on Pines to respond to another call observed a motorcycle accelerate to a high rate of speed and appeared to flee. During a short pursuit, the chain of the motorcycle broke, and the driver was arrested. The driver said he ran because he had a warrant for his arrest, but Deputies discovered the warrant was a non-extraditable misdemeanor warrant. Heroin was found in his pocket during a search after his arrest.
On April 29, 2019, just after 9:00 p.m., Spokane Valley Sergeant Jeff Thurman was traveling south on Pines near Alki when he heard Detectives request assistance. He activated his emergency lights and turned around. Now traveling north on Pines, he observed a white Suzuki GSXR ahead of him traveling at a high rate of speed. The motorcycle appeared to be accelerating due to the sound of the engines high RPMs.
The driver, later identified as 29-year-old Jacob G. Kagele, appeared to run a red light at Broadway as he turned east. Sergeant Thurman activated his siren and turned east with a green light. He observed and heard the motorcycle rapidly accelerating to a high rate of speed. Kagele passed another vehicle traveling east by recklessly swerving into the westbound lanes in excess of 80 mph.
With clear roads and no pedestrian or vehicle traffic, Sergeant Thurman decided to continue for a short distance with the hope he could get a license plate number, or Kagele would stop.
After Kagele passed McDonald, Sergeant Thurman noticed sparks coming from the rear tire area of the motorcycle and it began to slow dramatically. Near McCabe, Kagele came to a stop. As Sergeant
Thurman stopped behind the bike, he noticed the chain had separated from the sprocket, disabling the motorcycle and ending Kagele’s attempt to flee.
As Kagele was taken into custody, he uttered, “I (expletive) up and ran because I have a warrant.”
Kagele was advised of his rights and agreed to answer questions. He explained he saw the patrol car with its emergency lights on turn around and knew he had a warrant, so he decided to flee. When Sergeant Thurman explained he was going to a different call, Kagele said, “Man, I messed up.” He admitted to traveling well over 80 mph during his failed attempt to evade.
A check of Kagele’s name indeed showed a misdemeanor warrant for Driving While Suspended 3rd Degree, but it was not extraditable from Spokane County. It also showed Kagele’s driving privileges were still suspended.
During a search after his arrest, a baggie containing a black tar-like substance was located in Kagele’s jacket. The substance was later field tested and showed a presumptive positive result for Heroin.
Kagele was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Attempting to Elude, Possession of a Controlled Substance-Heroin and Driving While Suspended 3rd Degree.
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Corporal Mark Gregory
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
Spokane Valley Police Department
Public Information Officer