Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
An Asotin County Sheriff Department cruiser sits by a scenic overlook.
CLARKSTON - A local man is being held in the Whitman County Jail on $75,000 bail after attempting to elude law enforcement last week.
Steven K. Young, 35, is facing charges of felony eluding, possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamine, possession of a control substance-heroin and unlawful possession of a firearm.
He was booked into the Whitman County Jail on Friday, Jan. 8.
According to a Whitman County Sheriff's Office report, deputies attempted a traffic stop at the intersection of state Highways 128 and 193.
The driver, later identified as Young, failed to stop for deputies, despite their emergency lights and sirens, a report said. The chase continued over Red Wolf Bridge and into Clarkston.
Young turned onto Port Drive and drove at speeds up to 75 mph in a 25 mph zone, disregarding traffic control devices, the report said.
He lost control of his vehicle, struck a curb and several rocks, which punctured one of the tires on his vehicle, the report said.
But he continued several hundred more feet before losing control of the vehicle a second time and hitting a telephone pole and cable box.
After the crash, Young was taken into custody without incident.
Clarkston Police Department, Asotin County Deputies, and a Clarkston Ambulance arrived on the scene to assist.
Two passengers in the vehicle were detained and evaluated for minor injuries and released, the report said.
Deputies obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and found a .38 Special revolver on the floorboard of the driver's seat, the report said. Young is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Deputies also found items related to methamphetamine and heroin, the report said.
Second pursuit
The pursuit is the second in the Red Wolf Bridge area in less than a week.
Robert Edgar Speer, 49, of Couer d'Alene, Idaho, made his first appearance in Whitman County Superior Court last week following a high-speed chase Jan. 3.
Speer has released from the jail after being arrested for felony eluding, second-degree assault, second-degree trespassing and second-degree malicious mischief.
He may also be facing additional charges in Idaho, where that high-speed chase began, the Whitman County Sheriff's Office reported.
According to the Sheriff's Office, local authorities were alerted Jan. 3 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 arrrested without further incident.
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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