New Laws Frustrate Cops in Stolen Car-Burglary-Chase Mayhem Incident

Richland Police had to expend a lot more resources and energy than they would have in the past to capture a frantic suspect who was using her car as a deadly weapon on Monday.

 WHAT LED TO THE CRAZY INCIDENT?

Officers were called to a self-storage compound on Columbia Park Trail near Jericho Court, believed to be part of Clancy's Transfer and Storage, for a report of a suspicious vehicle inside the compound.

When they got there Richland Officers ran the plates and found they and the suspect's vehicle were both reported stolen.

The woman behind the wheel refused to follow commands to get out, instead she began driving dangerously around the compound.

Officers were able to establish contact with her on her cellphone and spent nearly an hour trying to de-escalate the situation and get her to give up. She refused.

 THEN WHAT DID SUSPECT DO?

After Police used what are called Stop Sticks to flatten the tires, the woman began to drive around again in circles, ramming the car into the perimeter fencing. Then, she drove the car at a high rate of speed ramming into an unoccupied RPD Cruiser.

The officers continue to try to de-escalate by backing out of the compound, but the woman then tried to escape by driving through the fence and an open field. But the car got stuck, and was pinned between two patrol units.

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Pepperball spray was used to subdue the woman and she was finally taken into custody.  28-year-old Emily Sanchez was arrested, and is facing a long list of charges, including (according to RPD):

 "...Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Burglary 2nd degree, Attempt to Elude, and Malicious Mischief 1st degree. Sanchez also had several warrants for her arrest."

Had this been 2019, or even 2020, a 37MM bean bag gun would have ended this incident long before all this mayhem occurred. But now, with all the new laws, Officers have to practically let a suspect go before they can establish probable cause and arrest even the most dangerous persons.

Speaking of bizarre behavior...