KINGSTON, Wash. – A car thief led deputies on a chase across Kitsap County after stealing a van from a woman delivering newspapers.
Sgt. Jim Porter with the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office says the woman was dropping off the Kitsap Sun at the AM/PM on State Route 104 in Kingston at about 2:47 a.m. She left her personal van running. That's when someone else who was in the store allegedly jumped in the van and took off.
About 15 minutes later, another delivery person spotted the van and called 911. Porter says the thief realized he was being followed and picked up speed. The paper carrier that called 911 kept following until sheriff's deputies caught up and took over the chase.
During the 14-mile pursuit, deputies say the suspect tossed a bundle of papers out of the van, hitting one of the cruisers. The papers broke apart, but the deputy was able to keep up the chase.
The thief ended up cornered in a residential neighborhood and gave up.
Nobody was hurt and the van wasn't damaged.
The suspect faces charges of auto theft and felony eluding.
