The driver fled the party at South Hill Mall in the SUV with his 14-year-old brother and 16-year-old cousin, police said.
PUYALLUP, Wash. — A 19-year-old man has been charged with attempting to elude police after he drove an SUV with two teenagers inside and fled a gathering of vehicles at South Hill Mall at speeds in excess of 100 mph before stopping at a nearby hotel, police said.
Robert Manuali’i Toelupe was charged Tuesday in Pierce County Superior Court with trying to evade a pursuing police car.
Puyallup police said officers were dispatched to a shopping center near JCPenney around 11:16 p.m. Sunday after receiving reports of a large gathering of vehicles, including several drivers making donuts.
As the vehicles began to leave the parking lot, an officer said he saw a Chevrolet Suburban driving quickly. The car ran a stop sign and reached speeds of 50 to 60 mph in a 10 mph zone.
The officer said the driver did not stop after the lights and sirens went off.
The SUV then reportedly turned off its lights, ran another stop sign as it left the mall, and ran a red light as it drove away.
Police said the Suburban later exceeded 100 mph (the speed limit was 35 mph) and ran a red light again.
The driver eventually slowed down and issued a stop signal through the window, the report said.
The SUV then pulled into the parking lot of the Fairfield Inn on Southwest 15th Avenue, where officers detained the driver and passenger.
Police identified Tollup as the driver. The two teens in the SUV were identified as his 14-year-old brother and 16-year-old cousin.
Suburban was seized and Tollup was booked into the Pierce County Jail.
