Lakewood police pursuit included shots, car crash

A 24-year-old felon who allegedly shot at Lakewood police during a pursuit on Sunday has been booked into Pierce County Jail.

No one was injured in the incident that started about 7:45 p.m. when an officer tried to pull over a Chrysler minivan near 100th Street Southwest and South Tacoma Way for a traffic violation, police said.

The driver sped away, traveling east on state Route 512 and passing cars until he got on southbound Interstate 5, police said.

He fired at least one shot at the officer chasing him, Lt. Chris Lawler said. The officer was not hit.

The chase continued until the driver made a U-turn and drove in the officer’s direction on North Thorne Lane as the officer exited the freeway, police said.

Police said the officer fired shots at the minivan as it drove closer.

The minivan then crossed I-5 and kept going until it pulled into an apartment complex near the 6500 block of 150th Street SW, where it hit another vehicle.

The driver ran off but was arrested nearby, police said.

Police said the driver is a suspected gang member and convicted felon who is a person of interest in a recent drive-by shooting in Tacoma.

He was booked into Pierce County Jail on suspicion of felony eluding and first-degree assault.

The officer was placed on administrative leave while the shooting is investigated, which is standard procedure.

The officer, 41, has been with the department since January 2014.

This story was originally published January 17, 2016 at 9:06 PM with the headline "Lakewood police pursuit included shots, car crash."