SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — A 24-year-old man was arrested in Spokane Valley after driving while under the influence and fleeing from law enforcement on Monday night.
On Dec. 11 around 10:45 p.m., Spokane Valley deputies saw a black Audi driving south on University Road approaching Sprague. The vehicle had no license plate and ran a red light at a high speed.
As the car continued driving, deputies noticed that the vehicle drifted into the center lane.
After observation, deputies believed that the driver was possibly impaired and conducted a traffic stop. The driver, 24-year-old Chandler Barton rolled down the passenger window instead of his driver’s window as deputies approached.
As they were behind his vehicle, Barton rolled his window up and fled.
The deputy quickly caught up to Barton but with his reckless driving and high speeds exceeding 80 mph they self-terminated the pursuit.
As Barton turned south on University and Sprague, a Sergeant positioned himself to successfully deploy spoke stipes.
Multiple patrol cars were following Barton, but he still ignored them. Later, Barton pulled into a driveway in the 3300 block of South Bowdish where he jumped out of his vehicle and ran on foot.
Barton ran into a residence and was given warnings over the PA system. He was eventually talked into a peaceful surrender by his family members.
A deputy on scene saw that two adult passengers were in the Audi during the pursuit. They told deputies that “Barton was giving them a ride home, and when he got pulled over, they told him to stop when he asked what he should do. But when Barton fled, he exclaimed, ‘I can’t go to jail.'”
Both passengers were released following the investigation.
As Barton spoke to an attorney, he provided a breath sample showing BAC levels of .115 and .122. After a check of his criminal history showed one prior DUI and that his driver’s privileges were suspended.
Barton was transported and booked into Spokane County Jail for felony charges of attempting to elude a law enforcement officer and two counts of unlawful imprisonment. He was also charged with a misdemeanor DUI, reckless endangerment and driving while suspended.
This is an ongoing investigation. Information will be updated as we learn more.
