The 30-year-old suspect arrested in Thurston County Sunday following a high-speed pursuit that resulted in a deputy firing shots has been charged with eight felonies.
Prosecutors say Keith L. Rouse fired multiple rounds from his vehicle as he attempted to elude a Washington State Patrol (WSP) trooper on Interstate 5.
A Thurston County deputy later fired three shots at Rouse during a foot chase after the suspect allegedly pointed a Glock 9mm pistol at the deputy. Rouse was not struck by the rounds.
Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders referred to Rouse’s alleged actions as a “homicidal crime spree.”
Rouse is charged with two counts of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon and single counts of drive-by shooting, attempting to elude a police vehicle, malicious injury to railroad property, felony harassment, first-degree unlawful firearm possession and possessing a stolen firearm.
Rouse faces up to life in prison if convicted of the assault charges. He made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday.
Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer said it was “shocking” that Rouse had been released from custody on his prior charges. According to Meyer, Rouse was released in June to electronic home monitoring and has pending charges for first-degree assault in Pierce County.
Rouse has previous convictions for robbery, assault, unlawful firearm possession and attempting to elude, among other offenses.
Meyer said there was “zero chance” Rouse would follow any conditions of release and requested $3 million in bail.
Defense attorney Rachael Tiller requested no more than $250,000 in bail. She noted Rouse was already subject to a no-bail hold from another county, as well as a hold from the state Department of Corrections (DOC).
Judge Paul Strophy granted Meyer’s request for $3 million cash or bond.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the WSP began pursuing Rouse at about 6:15 a.m. Sunday when a trooper patrolling I-5 saw a vehicle speed past him at about 103 mph.
The trooper pulled Rouse over near Exit 88. As the trooper exited his vehicle and approached, the suspect fled and continued south.
The chase continued into Lewis County. Rouse allegedly fired a shot from his vehicle near Exit 82 before exiting and reentering the interstate — this time heading north.
Rouse allegedly continued firing shots as the trooper pursued, before exiting the interstate again and then reentering in the southbound lane.
By then, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) had begun its pursuit and notified Lewis County law enforcement. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office responded. The suspect exited and changed directions one more time before driving over a spike strip near milepost 85.
Rouse reportedly kept driving, until he struck a barrier near Exit 88 and was “pinned in” by TCSO patrol vehicles, according to the affidavit.
Rouse allegedly exited his vehicle and ran across the northbound lanes. Deputies set up containment and pursued on foot.
In a Facebook post, Sanders said deputies followed the suspect “up the Grand Mound embankment, and back down to the railroad tracks.”
“The suspect climbed over a barb wire fence and fell on to the other side,” Sanders wrote. “The suspect refused orders, at which point a TCSO deputy tasered the suspect through the fence.”
According to the affidavit, Rouse “rolled over” and pointed his Glock — which had been reported stolen in Seattle — at the deputy.
According to the sheriff, officers ultimately found a firearm magazine on the interstate.
“The deputy fired three shots while retreating backward,” Sanders wrote.
Despite being struck again with a Taser, Rouse, separated from the deputies by the barbed-wire fence, eventually ran away, and later threatened two employees standing outside a nearby Taco Bell, according to the affidavit. Rouse allegedly said he had a gun.
“She stated the male was reaching into his coat pocket when making these statement,” prosecutors wrote in the affidavit.
Deputies arrived and again used a Taser on Rouse, dropping him to the ground. He was then taken to a hospital, before being booked into the Lewis County Jail.
In addition to the new charges and his felony warrants from Pierce County, Rouse was also booked on felony warrants from King County and the DOC, according to Sanders.
Sanders said Rouse — whom he did not name — was also connected to an armed robbery of a cannabis store in Pierce County that had occurred the previous night.
Sanders said the suspect had fired a round inside the store.
“Our deputies and troopers did a fantastic job ending a homicidal crime spree this morning while demonstrating sound tactics, exemplary teamwork, clear communication, and a concerted effort to only use deadly force as a last resort,” Sanders wrote.
Because a deputy fired his gun during the incident, TCSO notified the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII), which declined to investigate.
The Region 3 Critical Incident Investigation Team will instead investigate the case, and the deputy will remain on administrative leave until the investigation has been completed by the team and reviewed by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.
Rouse is scheduled for an arraignment in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday.
