36-year-old man trespassed onto JBLM military base during pursuit, charges say
A 36-year-old man is accused of trespassing onto Joint Base Lewis-McChord and almost striking a guard post during a pursuit over speeding early Monday morning.
Prosecutors charged the man with attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, driving under the influence and reckless endangerment.
A plea of not guilty was entered on the man’s behalf during his arraignment Monday afternoon. Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner Barbara McInvaille released the man on personal recognizance, and he is required to be on a home-monitoring device, court records show.
Charging details
State Patrol troopers were southbound on Interstate 5 near Bridgeport Way when a white Honda sedan approached them at about 1:43 a.m. while allegedly driving at 98 mph. The car slowed when it passed the patrol car. Troopers began to drive behind the Honda and called it to stop. The driver did not stop, and a pursuit began, according to charging documents.
Documents show the driver of the Honda tried to exit the freeway multiple times but continued driving south through the gore points.
The driver allegedly took the exit to the JBLM main gate and entered the military base, documents show. Troopers say the driver nearly struck military personnel at a guard post and the Department of Defense security guards.
The pursuit continued, and troopers say that the driver tried to drive away at high speed through the military base. The driver allegedly ran through multiple stop signs and had “no regard for the safety of others,” according to charging documents. There was no traffic on the base.
Troopers saw the driver was a man and there was a female passenger, documents show. After the Honda had to turn around, the vehicle stopped on a dirt road near the intersection of I Street and 8th Street. The woman left the car and ran off. The driver rolled himself out and onto the ground. Troopers say that the driver complied to their instructions, and he was arrested.
Troopers searched for the woman, and she was eventually detained by JBLM police.
Documents show that a trooper noted a strong odor of intoxicants coming from the man. He was taken to a hospital for a blood draw, and the toxicology results are pending. The man was then booked into the Pierce County Jail.
An open bottle of alcohol was found underneath the driver’s seat of the Honda, according to charging documents.
Documents show that an undercover Tacoma Police Department officer informed troopers she was doing a racing enforcement emphasis and saw the Honda racing with another vehicle prior to the traffic stop.
JBLM police also advised State Patrol they will refer federal charges for trespassing.
The man has previous convictions, including in 2019 for hit and run unattended vehicle and failure to obey an officer in Pierce County. He also has an active warrant from King County Superior Court.
This story was originally published September 16, 2025 at 3:01 PM.
