An Elma police officer is under investigation for discharging his weapon during the arrest of a 42-year-old Rochester man accused of pulling a gun on a convenience store clerk then leading officers on a high speed pursuit through Elma Sunday afternoon.
Neither the suspect nor the officers involved were injured during the incident.
“Because this situation is under investigation, facts and circumstances leading up to the officer’s actions will be released at a later date,” wrote Elma Police Chief Susan Shultz in a news release on Monday.
The names of the suspect and the involved officer have not been released.
The officer is on administrative leave while the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Department completes an investigation.
The suspect was arrested for first-degree robbery “and on suspicion of several other charges,” according to the news release.
Officers with the Elma Police Department reportedly saw the suspect’s vehicle travel eastbound on state Route 12 at Schouweiler. They attempted to stop the vehicle as it traveled through Elma at speeds ranging from 60 to 100 mph, according to the news release.
The suspect took Third Street and began traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Route 12, at which time officers terminated the pursuit until observing the suspect driving in the incorrect lanes of travel, according to the news release.
Elma and McCleary officers continued the pursuit into McCleary, where the pursuit came to an end.
At about 5:07 p.m., the suspect was involved in a vehicle collision with an unrelated vehicle at the intersection of South Third Street, Mox Chehalis and McCleary roads in McCleary, according to the news release.
The Elma Police Department did not release the details of what happened after the crash and the events that led to the officer discharging his weapon.
Deputies from the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office and troopers from the Washington State Patrol responded to assist after the officer discharged his weapon, according to the news release.
The scene and surrounding area was blocked off for several hours on Sunday.
