Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
CLARKSTON — The Whitman County Sheriff’s Office arrested an Idaho man early Sunday morning, Jan. 3, following a high-speed chase.
Robert Edgar Speer, 49, of Couer d’Alene, Idaho, was scheduled to make his first appearance in Whitman County Superior Court today on charges of felony eluding, second-degree assault, second-degree trespassing and second-degree malicious mischief.
He may also be facing additional charges in Idaho, where the high-speed chase began, the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office reported.
As of this morning, he was being held without bail in the county jail here, records show.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, local authorities were alerted to a high-speed chase entering the county near Red Wolf Bridge, east of Lewiston, Idaho.
The Idaho State Patrol and Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office deputies were pursuing a driver that failed to stop after authorities activated their lights and sirens.
Whitman County Sheriff’s Office deputies, state Department of Fish and Wildlife and Pullman police officers were asked to assist, a report said, noting the vehicle being pursued was a 2004 GMC pickup, the report said.
The vehicle was spotted a short time late in the Steptoe Canyon area west of Clarkston, the report said. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle several times, even deploying spike strips.
The pursuit continued onto country roads with the driver, later identified as Speer, using his vehicle to nearly strike law enforcement vehicles, the report said. Officers lost sight of the pickup when Speer left the roadway and drove across a field.
Because of the weather and nighttime conditions, officers waited in the area until daylight, the report said. At approximately 7 a.m., ATV units located the vehicle and driver over a nearby hill with Speer asleep inside.
Speer was taken into custody without further incident, the report said.
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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