Pursuit/Felony Assault/Unlawful Imprisonment
June 24th, 2014, at about 1:30 a.m., Spokane Valley Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Thurman was patrolling the area of Sprague and Freya when he located a stolen, 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche. Deputy Thurman attempted to stop the vehicle when the driver, later identified as 43-year-old Hector Rodriguez, failed to stop and fled from Deputy Thurman.
Deputy Thurman initiated a pursuit and at the intersection of Appleway and Coleman, Rodriguez turned into a dirt parking lot. When Rodriguez attempted to exit the parking lot, he intentionally hit Deputy Thurman’s patrol vehicle head on. Deputy Thurman was able to pursue Rodriguez to the area of Broadway and Bowdish before his patrol vehicle became inoperable due to a flat tire from the collision.
Deputy Thurman and his K9 partner Laslo continued in the pursuit in a separate deputy’s vehicle. During the pursuit, deputies saw there was a female passenger that was trying to either get Rodriguez to stop and/or exit the vehicle. The deputies did not know if the passenger was an acquaintance of Rodriguez or if she was the victim of a kidnapping.
Rodriguez eventually turned southbound onto Long Road from Broadway. Rodriguez was unable to negotiate a left turn at the intersection of Long and Appleway and collided with small trees on the south side of Appleway. Prior to colliding with the trees, the adult female passenger jumped out of the front passenger side of the vehicle. She was injured and was last listed in stable condition at a local hospital.
Rodriguez ran from the vehicle and Laslo located him a short distance later hiding underneath a deck in a residential area. Rodriguez was taken into custody and booked into jail for Unlawful Imprisonment/Domestic Violence (he and the female had a domestic relationship at one time), 2nd Degree Assault, Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Felony Eluding, Vehicular Assault, DUI, Resisting Arrest and Obstructing. The investigation is on-going and additional charges are possible.