A Camano Island man faces felony charges after he allegedly drove an estimated 160 mph in an attempt to elude a state trooper on Interstate 5 in Lewis County on Oct. 22.
Jeanpierre M. Grose, 23, was charged with one count of attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
He made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court Oct. 23.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed by the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office, at approximately 11 p.m., Oct. 22, a state trooper clocked a red Dodge Charger going 85 mph in a 60-mph-speed-limit zone near milepost 78.
The trooper attempted to stop the driver, who initially pulled over at the Exit 77 off-ramp. But when the trooper left his vehicle, “the Charger spun its tires, losing traction, while it accelerated away from the stop,” court documents stated.
The trooper returned to his car. A pursuit ensued.
Back on I-5, the trooper noted that the Charger was topping 144 mph as it raced past other vehicles with its light turned off.
The trooper later estimated the Charger was traveling as fast as 160 mph — perhaps faster.
Finally, at about milepost 58, the Charger was halted by spikes deployed by a Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy.
At that point, the suspect reportedly fled on foot and hid in the trees, until he was apprehended by the trooper and identified as Grose.
During the preliminary hearing, Judge Paul Strophy doubled the state’s request for $25,000 in bail, citing the “high risk to community safety” posed by Grose’s alleged actions, saying “it’s only pure luck that you don’t kill someone” driving at such speeds.
Along with the $50,000 bail, Grose was ordered not to operate a motor vehicle while the case is pending.
An arraignment was scheduled for Oct. 30.
Grose will look to retain private counsel.
