SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. – A Spokane Valley Deputy in a patrol car found himself driving after a suspect on a bicycle who was attempting to evade a traffic stop. When he caught up to the suspicious cyclist, he found that the man was guilty of several crimes, including stealing the bicycle.
On July 28, around 10:45 p.m., the Spokane Valley Deputy in a fully marked patrol car down East Broadway Avenue west of North Burns Road attempted to pull over bicyclist for an equipment violation.
The cyclist looked back at the patrol car with its lights blazing and, instead of stopping, continued down Burns Road, according to a report by the Spokane Valley Police Department.
The deputy activated his siren, but the cyclist only increased his speed, “in an apparent attempt to escape,” wrote the Spokane Valley Police Department.
Eventually, the cyclist switched directions and began travelling south on Burns Road, before crossing Broadway Avenue and riding into the driveway of a house in the 700 block of North Burns.
He got off the bike and ran into the backyard.
The Deputy followed him and eventually chased him on foot while ordering him to stop.
The suspect climbed a fence and entered another backyard, but when the deputy had made it over the fence, he found the suspect lying on the ground.
The deputy took the suspect into custody without further incident.
As they walked back, the suspect said that he had just needed some clothes.
The deputy identified the suspect as 27-year-old Joshua Helliwell and found that there was an active Washington State Department of Corrections Escape Community Custody felony warrant for his arrest. His original charge was retail theft with special circumstances.
The bike Heliwell had been riding, a Mongoose BMX, was valued at $310 and had been reported stolen on July 22, 2025.
Heliwell was advised of his rights and agreed to answer questions. He said that he didn’t stop for the deputy because he had stolen clothes but knew he had warrants out for his arrest. He admitted to stealing the bike he had been riding.
The stolen clothes were valued at just over $190.
Heliwell was booked into the Spokane County Jail for his felony warrant, two counts of theft third degree and obstructing law enforcement.
He was also issued a traffic infraction for the equipment violation.
