Latest news with #DerekSanders
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Thurston County Sheriff's Office to increase impaired driving enforcement this summer
Thurston County deputies will increase impaired driving enforcement during the summer after securing a state grant. The Thurston County Sheriff's Office is funding the additional patrols with a $50,000 grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, the state's designated highway safety office. The Board of County Commissioners approved an interlocal agreement for the grant funding during its May 20 meeting. In a Monday Facebook post, Sheriff Derek Sanders said the money will help fund about 100 six-hour overtime shifts through the end of September. These shifts will be focused on weekends and other 'high risk days,' according to a news release. 'We are approaching the most deadly time of the year on our public roadways, with nearly half of our fatal crashes involving an impaired driver,' Sanders said in his post. 'If you're going to drink, make a plan ahead of time and save lives.' Earlier this year, the Sheriff's Office unsuccessfully applied for a grant to fund a full-time deputy who would be dedicated to impaired driving enforcement. 'Although we were not selected for that opportunity, we are grateful to have secured this critical summer funding, which will help us make a meaningful difference on our roadways,' the release says. The Sheriff's Office says impaired driving, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, continues to be one of the most 'preventable and devastating threats to public safety.' The release states Thurston County has seen an 'alarming rise in serious injury and fatal collisions involving impairment.' The Olympian has asked the Sheriff's Office to provide data to support this. Data from the WA Traffic Safety Commission indicates the number of impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes in Thurston County was 9 in 2020, 10 in 2021, 11 in 2022, 20 in 2023 and 18 in 2024. Over that same time period, impaired drivers ages 25-30 were involved in 15 fatal crashes, those 31-35 were involved in 9 crashes and those 36-40 were involved in 11 crashes. The data shows 76.5% of impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes were men. About half of these crashes were single-vehicle crashes and half were multi-vehicle crashes. The data indicates 27 such crashes occurred on county roads followed by 14 on city streets, 12 on interstate highways, 7 on state routes and 7 on U.S. highways. The WA Traffic Safety Commission does not have a data dashboard that shows the number of impaired drivers involved in non-fatal crashes. The Sheriff's Office says the new grant will allow it to take a proactive approach to protecting Thurston County residents and visitors. 'We remain committed to supporting the state's goal of reducing traffic-related fatalities and are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to making Washington's roads safer for everyone,' the release says.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
WA jail inmate attacks corrections deputy, tries to steal keys
The Brief A Thurston County Jail inmate attacked a corrections deputy in an attempt to steal the deputy's cell keys. The inmate was in custody for allegedly stabbing a grocery store employee without provocation. He is expected to face additional charges for assaulting an officer. THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. - A jailed stabbing suspect attacked a corrections deputy and grabbed their cell keys during a violent struggle at the Thurston County Jail Wednesday morning. The backstory According to Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders, the suspect was arrested May 13 after allegedly stabbing a grocery store employee without provocation and was booked into jail for second-degree assault. What they're saying On Wednesday morning, a deputy invited the same inmate out of his cell for recreation time. The inmate walked out of the cell, punched the deputy in the face and pinned him against the wall grates while grabbing the cell keys. Sheriff Sanders said the deputy returned multiple hand strikes to the inmate's head, causing him to fall to the ground. The inmate held onto the keys during the struggle. A second corrections deputy responded and delivered a knee strike to the inmate's rib cage, causing him to release the keys. The inmate was placed back in his cell and is expected to face additional criminal charges for assaulting an officer. The deputy was treated for his injuries and released from the hospital. The Source Information in this story comes from a social media press release by Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders. A religious group held a protest outside Seattle City Hall. Here's why LIVE: Updates on Seattle's Tuesday protest, arrests, more Crews battle Second Creek Fire near Leavenworth, WA 2 injured in separate Seattle shootings Teen, child killed in Lacey, WA mobile home fire Crews investigate explosion at Woodinville, WA hardware store College Inn Pub announces closure after 50 years in Seattle Dave's Hot Chicken to open 4 new locations in Seattle area. Here's where To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Here's why this North Thurston middle school was locked out last week
Chinook Middle School and other schools were briefly locked out last week after a suspect, fleeing from Washington State Patrol troopers and Thurston County Sheriff's deputies, ditched his vehicle nearby. That suspect is still at large, said Sheriff's Lt. Mike Brooks on Sunday. Chinook Middle School families received this message about noon Tuesday, May 20: 'Due to police activity in the area, the Lacey Police Department has advised us to initiate a lockout,' the email reads. 'All exterior doors to the school are currently locked. We are in communication with the Lacey Police Department and awaiting further instructions. Please be assured that all students are safe. We will update you when we have more information.' The lockout was lifted shortly thereafter, according to a follow-up email from the school. Sheriff Derek Sanders explained what happened in a social media post, saying that Chehalis police had advised them that the driver of an H3 Hummer, who allegedly was casing houses, then fled north on Interstate 5. 'A short time later, WSP attempted to stop the Hummer and a pursuit was initiated. Near the 110 mile marker, the Hummer slammed on the brakes, turned around, and began driving the wrong way down I-5,' Sanders wrote. He said the driver crossed the median, fled toward College Street and ditched his vehicle. Lacey police Sgt. Jeremy Knight said Sunday that location was near North Thurston Public Schools' district headquarters, which triggered the lockout. Other schools in the area also were briefly locked out, a district spokeswoman said Sunday. According to a photo released by the Sheriff's Office, the man was last seen in a sleeveless black shirt, black short pants, red socks and black sneakers. He also has tattoos on both arms. His hair was tied up in a bun, the photo shows. Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call the Thurston non-emergency dispatch line at 360-704-2740.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Police dog drags suspect from under a deck early Saturday, Thurston Sheriff Sanders says
A police dog helped take a male suspect into custody early Saturday morning, according to Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders. In a social media post, Sanders said a resident flagged down a deputy and his police dog, telling the deputy there was an armed drug dealer driving around west Olympia. A short time later, according to Sanders, the deputy tried to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle with tabs that expired in 2022, but the driver drove away from the deputy. It was not immediately clear if the resident's tip and the vehicle with expired tabs were connected; however, a pursuit was initiated, Sanders said. The driver fled at speeds of 100 miles per hour near The Evergreen State College, slid into a tree in a nearby neighborhood, left the car and ran, according to Sanders. 'K9 Igo found the driver hiding under a deck,' he wrote. 'Despite numerous K9 warnings to crawl out, the suspect refused and instead chose to ignore our commands and dig through his pockets and waistband.' The dog was deployed and he extracted the suspect from under the deck, according to Sanders. Once in custody, deputies obtained a search warrant to search the suspect vehicle and found a loaded .357 Magnum handgun. Sanders said the suspect was treated for minor injuries from the dog bite and booked into the Thurston County Jail for attempting to elude, unlawful possession of a firearm, and hit and run.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Search underway for man accused of casing houses in Chehalis
The Thurston County Sheriff's Office is looking for a man accused of casing houses in Chehalis and then sending law enforcement on a high-speed chase. On Tuesday, Chehalis police called for backup when the man refused to pull over. They said their suspect was headed northbound on I-5 in a white H2 Hummer. At some point, deputies say the driver slammed on the brakes, turned around, and began driving the wrong way on the highway. Sheriff Derek Sanders says he started a rolling slowdown to try and prevent a deadly crash. The driver of the Hummer eventually crossed the median after seeing traffic and took off toward College Street. Law enforcement says they found the Hummer in an abandoned parking lot – still running. It was impounded. Deputies called for K9 Asher, who tracked the man through school properties in the area and out to Martin Way, where it's believed someone picked him up. The Thurston County Sheriff's Office shared a picture of the Hummer and a still image of the man from a surveillance camera. He was last seen wearing black shorts and a black cut-off tank top. He has a man bun and several tattoos on his forearms. If you recognize the man or saw something that may help law enforcement find him, call the Thurston County Sheriff's Office tip line at (360) 704-2740.
