VIDEO: Suspect Tries to Evade Deputies in a Car and on Foot, Air 2 Leads to Safe Arrest
Air 2 VIDEO can be viewed on the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office YouTube Channel or Facebook page. (Video Edited for Time)
VIDEO: Suspect Tries to Evade Deputies in a Car and on Foot, Air 2 Leads to Safe Arrest
Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to an unknown injury collision on I-90 near the Medical Lake exit. They located the extensively damaged vehicle and learned it had been reported as stolen. The suspect continued driving the vehicle east on I-90 despite the hood repeatedly flipping up and obstructing the windshield. Then, he recklessly decided to flee from a fully marked patrol car with its emergency lights and siren activated. Eventually, the suspect fled on foot, but with Deputies giving chase and Air 2 now overhead, he realized the futility of his actions and surrendered. Deputies arrested him on felony and misdemeanor charges.
On September 18, 2026, at approximately 8:45 pm, two Spokane County Deputies, riding in the same fully marked patrol car, responded to an unknown injury collision on I-90, eastbound at MP 273. Callers stated a blue sedan crashed into the center median and had flames visibly coming from underneath.
As the Deputies responded code, they were advised the vehicle was attempting to get back on I-90 and leave the scene. One caller provided an Idaho license plate number, which, when checked, showed the sedan had been reported stolen from a location inside the city of Spokane on September 7, 2026.
Additional information indicated the wrecked car continued east with its hazard lights on, and the hood kept flipping up over the windshield. Callers also said sparks or flames were coming from underneath the vehicle.
The Deputies located the eastbound stolen car near MP 272. They turned around and soon caught up to it near MP 277A (Garden Springs/Hwy. 2). Even though it was clearly the correct vehicle, as it was heavily damaged, the hood was still folded over the windshield, and it was shooting sparks from the undercarriage, the Deputies also confirmed the license plate.
With their lights and siren activated, the driver of the stolen and wrecked sedan, later identified as 28-year-old James D. Bridges, continued driving down the off-ramp at approximately 20-30 mph. At W. Garden Springs Road, Bridges chose to accelerate instead of stopping as required by Washington RCW. As he did so, he cut the left turn short and drove on the wrong side of the road. He corrected this extremely dangerous maneuver and moved into the correct westbound travel lane, while still ignoring the emergency lights and siren.
Approaching the 5200 block of W. Lawton Road, Bridges attempted to speed up to 35-45 mph, but the hood flipped up again, blocking his view. Bridges slammed on the brakes, nearly stopped the car, bailed out without putting it in park, and ran west.
The Deputies gave chase, and near the 5300 block of W. Lawton Road, Bridges ran into an open field filled with brush while ignoring several lawful commands to stop and being told that he was under arrest. The uneven field, covered in brush and fallen trees, proved difficult to run through in the dark.
After the Deputies lost sight of Bridges, they continued to give commands to stop and warned that force may be used if he didn’t surrender, but they soon observed Bridges running through trees to the west as Air 2 arrived.
Air 2 advised they had Bridges in sight and used the spotlight to illuminate his location as he continued running toward a mobile home park. Once inside the park, it appeared Bridges may have entered a mobile home, or he was hiding underneath one.
With additional Deputies responding to assist, including a K9 Unit, the Deputies slowly approached the trailer where Bridges was last seen. Air 2 advised Deputies that Bridges appeared from the other side of the home and was running south. Again, Deputies pursued, but because the uneven, rocky terrain created potentially dangerous conditions, they decided to set up a perimeter and wait for the K9 Unit.
Soon after, Air 2 advised that Bridges had stopped running and was now standing still with his hands raised. The Deputies slowly approached and safely took Bridges into custody.
One Deputy received a minor injury to his ankle during the foot pursuit.
Bridges was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for charges of Attempting to Elude a Police Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, and Resisting Arrest.
On Monday, September 21, 2026, during his court appearance, Spokane County Superior Court Commissioner T. Chavez ordered him released on his own recognizance, and he was released from custody later that day.
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