Car pursuit, chase on foot leads to arrest

Driver allegedly pointed handgun at officer; surrendered after 20 minutes negotiation

This+is+a+crime+of+intimidation+...+this+is+the+crime+of+scaring+people+when+theyre+at+their+most+vulnerable%2C%E2%80%9D+said+Dan+LeBeau%2C+Whitman+County+chief+deputy+prosecutor.

OLIVER MCKENNA | THE DAILY EVERGREEN

“This is a crime of intimidation … this is the crime of scaring people when they’re at their most vulnerable,” said Dan LeBeau, Whitman County chief deputy prosecutor.

LAUREN ELLENBECKER, Evergreen reporter

A high-speed pursuit involving an armed Idaho man ended peacefully in Pullman Wednesday evening.

Deputies from the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office received a vandalism complaint around 7:30 p.m. at Nisqually John Landing on Wawawai Road, according to a press release from the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy Tyler Langerveld responded to the call and observed the suspected vehicle speeding toward Pullman, according to the press release. Langerveld allegedly failed to stop the vehicle after activating his emergency lights to pull the suspect over for a traffic stop. The vehicle continued to drive toward Pullman at 100 mph, according to the release.

The driver was later identified as Dustin Pearson, 33. As Pearson entered the City of Pullman from U.S. Highway 195, Langerveld ended his pursuit as Pullman Police followed the vehicle.

Pearson swerved off the road and collided with an embankment at Old Wawawai Road and Wheat Ridge Drive, according to the release. He proceeded to run toward a nearby apartment complex on Golden Hills Drive where he was confronted by Pullman officers.

Pearson allegedly pointed a loaded handgun at an officer and continued up a flight of stairs as he was trying to contact a resident, according to the release. The resident called 911.

Langerveld and Pullman officers negotiated with Pearson and convinced him to surrender after 20 minutes, according to the release. Pearson said he drew his firearm to get the police to shoot him.

The driver was charged for felony eluding, second-degree assault, possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a firearm, according to the release. A passenger in the vehicle was charged and released for unlawful possession of a controlled substance.