LACEY, Wash. — A shooting suspect who led police on a chase Sunday, April 7 was charged Tuesday.
Frank Jonathan Taylor, 32, faces charges of first-degree assault while armed with a firearm and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
Taylor's bail was set at $100,000. He will have a firearm review hearing on April 11 and will be arraigned April 23.
Around 3:30 p.m. on April 7, a corporal with the Lacey Police Department reported he was pinging a cellphone for a suspect involved in a shooting and that there was probable cause to arrest Taylor. Minutes later, an officer saw Taylor's vehicle in the Lacey area.
Police officers caught up to the vehicle and attempted to pull it over. A pursuit was authorized.
The pursuit eventually led to Sleater-Kinney Road SE, where Taylor's vehicle sped past North Thurston High School at about 70 miles per hour, according to a statement of probable cause.
Taylor's vehicle cut off another car and entered southbound Interstate 5, merging at about 90 mph.
The vehicle weaved through traffic as it continued south on I-5, reaching speeds of about 100 mph at times.
Eventually, the suspect vehicle exited at Exit 88, running through a red light at Old Highway 99 and northbound I-5, before entering northbound I-5.
Just before 4 p.m., an officer conducted a PIT maneuver as the suspect vehicle slowed to merge onto the interstate. It came to a stop in the center lane of I-5.
Taylor intentionally rammed two police vehicles as he attempted to flee, according to the statement of probable cause.
Taylor was able to back out, turn around and drive north on southbound I-5. Taylor drove the wrong way on I-5 for over half a mile before crashing into another vehicle near Grand Mound – the driver of that vehicle was taken to the hospital for possible injuries.
Taylor's vehicle broke down and he "immediately put his hands in the air" when an officer approached.
In total, the pursuit spanned about 22.5 miles and lasted about 15 minutes.
Police later learned the vehicle was reported stolen out of Olympia.
Traffic was backed up for hours following the final crash.
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