By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
- • Video released shows a man pushing a Washington State Patrol trooper to the ground and stealing her patrol vehicle on Interstate 5 in Seattle on Christmas Day.
- • The suspect, identified as 24-year-old Alexander Eugene Smith, told investigators he had smoked methamphetamine before the incident.
- • The trooper initially contacted the man after reports of a pedestrian on the highway’s lanes; she was offering assistance when the assault occurred.
- • A multi-agency pursuit followed along I-5 before the stolen vehicle was stopped in Lynnwood and the suspect was taken into custody.
- • No serious injuries were reported in connection with the chase or patrol car theft, and the investigation of the case is ongoing.
SEATTLE, WA — Newly released video shows a man pushing a Washington State Patrol trooper to the ground and stealing her patrol vehicle during an encounter on Interstate 5 on Christmas Day, authorities said.
The Washington State Patrol lieutenant was responding to a report of a pedestrian walking in the center lanes near North 85th Street when she and other troopers contacted 24-year-old Alexander Eugene Smith, officials said. The video shows the suspect suddenly assaulting the trooper and entering the patrol vehicle before fleeing northbound in the stolen cruiser.
Smith told investigators he had smoked methamphetamine prior to the incident, and the patrol’s social media posts indicated troopers repeatedly urged him to leave the freeway before the confrontation.
A multi-agency pursuit ensued along I-5, ending in Lynnwood when a trooper used a PIT maneuver to stop the stolen vehicle, and Smith was taken into custody without reported serious injuries to officers or the public.
The Washington State Patrol and local law enforcement continue to investigate the incident as court proceedings and charges against the suspect move forward.