The driver threatened an officer, crashed into the patrol car’s window and fled across Tacoma, police said.
TACOMA, Wash. — Pierce County prosecutors have charged a man who police say threatened a Tacoma police officer, fled from police and crashed into another vehicle during the pursuit.
Brandon Thomas Tradewell was charged Tuesday with seven counts in connection with the May 31 incident: second-degree assault, two counts of felony harassment, third-degree assault, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, driving under the influence and obstructing a law enforcement officer.
Second-degree assault and felony harassment charges include allegations that the crimes involved a law enforcement officer who was on the job at the time.
According to court documents, the incident occurred around 8:40 p.m. when a Tacoma police officer was stopped at a red light.
The officer reported seeing a 2013 Volkswagen Passat parked nearby.
The officer wrote that the driver yelled obscenities, threatened and shook him off, then roughly made a U-turn and followed the officer.
The driver then stopped, got out and struck the patrol car’s passenger side window, police said.
When officers tried to detain him as he returned to the Volkswagen, the driver grabbed the officer’s arm while accelerating, police said.
The officer wrote that he had to stay away from the moving vehicle to avoid being hit.
Police then chased the Volkswagen through parts of Tacoma. The officer reportedly lost sight of the vehicle initially, but another officer later spotted it.
The pursuit continued onto Pacific Avenue, where police said the Volkswagen ran a red light, a stop sign and then hit a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The force of the crash pushed the Jeep into the yard and bushes, an officer wrote.
The driver of the Jeep told police he had trouble breathing and injured his back. He was evaluated by Tacoma Fire Department personnel and he was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Doctors said he had no broken bones but suffered pain in his chest, abdomen and back, police later wrote.
Tedwell was taken into custody at the crash scene. Police wrote that he made statements about being intoxicated after the accident.
Police obtained a blood draw warrant as part of a drink-driving investigation. Blood samples were collected at St. Joseph’s Hospital and submitted to the Washington State Patrol Toxicology Laboratory for testing, police said.
The most serious charge is second-degree assault, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. The felonious harassment, third-degree assault and attempt to elude charges each carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
