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Reckless Driver Attempts to Flee
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On June 7th, 2015, Spokane Valley Sheriff’s Deputy Justin Palmer arrested 27-year-old Michael W. Rosslow and 21-year-old Jacob A. Woodward after a pursuit through east Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake.
Deputy Palmer initially noticed the 1997 Honda Civic travelling eastbound on Broadway from Flora Road at a high rate of speed. The Honda was travelling at approximately 70 MPH in a posted 35 MPH zone. Deputy Palmer attempted to catch up to the Honda, driven by Rosslow, as it turned onto Long Road, accelerated to 65-70 MPH and began driving in the middle of the road.
Deputy Palmer turned on his emergency lights and siren as he attempted to stop Rosslow for his obviously reckless behavior but Rosslow failed to stop. Deputy Palmer observed the rear window of the vehicle was broken as the pursuit continued. In the area of 5th Avenue and Arc Road, someone in the vehicle threw a speaker out of the window toward Deputy Palmer’s vehicle. Deputy Palmer avoided the speaker as the pursuit continued. As Rosslow turned north on Long Road, Deputy Palmer observed there was an adult female in the passenger’s seat of the vehicle. At Long Road and Sprague, Rosslow stopped the Honda and the female exited. The female was detained by assisting Liberty Lake Officer Wilkerson as Rosslow sped away continuing his attempt to evade Deputy Palmer. Deputy Palmer tried twice to position his vehicle to attempt a PIT maneuver and safely end the pursuit but both attempts were unsuccessful due to Rosslow’s reckless driving.
Rosslow turned westbound on Knox Avenue from Molter Road and continued west to the dead-end where he drove off an embankment into an open field. He tried to jump out of the vehicle but appeared to get caught up on the seatbelt. He turned north in the field toward I-90 and accelerated. Fearing Rosslow would continue into traffic on I-90 and possibly cause a serious collision, Deputy Palmer successfully attempted another PIT maneuver stopping the Honda. When the vehicle stopped, Deputy Palmer noticed what appeared to be a child in the rear seat as Rosslow fled on foot toward I-90. When Rosslow approached the barbed-wire fence, he stopped and turned toward Deputy Palmer. After failing to follow several commands to get on the ground, Deputy Palmer used his knee to strike Rosslow in the stomach and knock him to the ground. Rosslow was quickly taken into custody with the assistance of Liberty Lake Officer Deines.
Deputy Palmer looked back toward the Honda, concerned for the welfare of what he thought may be a child in the backseat, and observed a male, later identified as Woodward, who was hiding in the backseat, exit the Honda and run eastbound through the field. Deputy Palmer pursued Woodward on foot and ordered him several times to stop but Woodward ignored the commands. Woodward climbed the 6’ fence that surrounded the closed R&R RV business and ran out of sight.
Several units quickly set up a containment perimeter around the business. The owner was contacted and confirmed the business was closed and no one should be there.
Spokane Police K9 Officer Hamilton and his partner K9 Leo arrived at the location to assist with the search. Several K9 warnings were given, informing Woodward a K9 would be used to find him and to give up, but he continued to hide. K9 Leo located Woodward hiding in the axle area of a travel trailer and taken into custody. An open folding knife was located where Woodward had been hiding, along with a shirt he had discarded.
After being advised of his rights, Rosslow stated he tried to run because he thought there was a warrant for his arrest and he didn’t want to go back to jail. Rosslow also told deputies, “That’s the last time I’m running from the police in a Honda Civic.â€Â Rosslow was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Attempting to Elude, Obstructing, Resisting Arrest and a misdemeanor warrant for Driving While Suspended 3rdDegree.
Woodward received medical attention prior to being transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Burglary 1st Degree, Attempting to Elude, Obstructing and Resisting Arrest.
It was determined the female who exited the vehicle during the pursuit was only a passenger and was not charged with a crime.
Deputy Mark Gregory
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
Public Information Officer
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