Members of the Yakima Valley Special Investigative Unit were called to the city of Sunnyside on Thursday, September 18th around 7:55 pm after two Sunnyside police officers were involved in a shooting.
The incident began when deputies from the Yakima County Sheriff’s Department (YSO) were dispatched to a home in the 1200 block of Lester Road for a Violation of a No Contact Order. After requesting assistance from the Sunnyside Police Department (SPD), the deputies and officers arrived at the home as the suspect was leaving.
The suspect failed to stop for the officers and a pursuit ensued. During the pursuit, the suspect intentionally rammed a SPD patrol car multiple times, disabling the vehicle. Shortly thereafter, the suspect rammed a YSO deputy’s patrol SUV on the driver’s side, plowing the patrol car into a vineyard and injuring the deputy.
Two Sunnyside officers shot at the fleeing suspect as the chase continued. The pursuit ended in the 700 block of N. 16th Ave in Sunnyside when deputies employed a pursuit intervention technique to disable the fleeing vehicle.
One deputy was transported via ambulance to Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital from injuries he suffered after the suspect rammed his patrol car. He was released from the hospital early this morning.
The suspect, a 63-year-old Sunnyside resident, was not injured during the incident. He was charged with DUI, eluding, assault 1st and 2nd degree, and violation of a no contact order. He was booked into the Yakima County Jail.
The two Sunnyside officers involved in the incident were not injured in the incident.
Information regarding the use of force by SPD officers and a YSO deputy will come from Yakima Police Captain Jay Seely, a member of the Yakima Valley Special Investigative Unit.
The YSD will be investigating the eluding, assault, DUI, and violation of a no contact order elements of the incident.
Information about personnel actions taken by the SPD related to the incident will come from Sunnyside Police Chief Al Escalera.