Man who unwittingly challenged unmarked WSP vehicle to race faces felony charge

A man who unwittingly challenged a Washington State Patrol trooper to a race and hit speeds upwards of 149 mph in 2025 is facing felony charges in Lewis County Superior Court.

Frank J. Farkas, 48, of Spanaway, is facing one Class C felony of attempting to elude police charge, along with misdemeanor DUI and reckless driving charges, after he allegedly attempted to challenge the unmarked patrol vehicle on Interstate 5 in the summer of 2025.

Since then, Farkas has missed several court appearances due to health issues, according to his attorney Paul Haggerty.

“My understanding is Mr. Farcas did get an infection … He did provide me with some photographs of the infection. I can assure everyone they are pretty serious,” Haggerty said.

He added Farkas is still experiencing some “serious health issues” and asked for release from Lewis County Jail without bail or for the court to maintain the original 2025 bail amount of $50,000.

But given his continued failure to provide the courts with required medical documentation, Lewis County Superior Court Pro Tem Commissioner Kathryn Eyraud decided to increase his bail amount to $150,000 during a motion hearing held on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

“I do have worries Mr. Farkas will fail to appear … and he has provided excuses, which he hasn’t substantiated,” Eyraud said.

Eyraud set bail at $150,000 after the Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office asked for it to be set at $250,000, citing Farkas’s previous failures to appear and his criminal history — which includes convictions for kidnapping, first-degree robbery, second-degree burglary and more. The prosecutor added with Farkas’s previous failures to appear, he would have been justified in asking for Farkas to be held without bail.

A new trial date has been set for the end of the month on Oct. 29, starting at 2:30 p.m.

After his hearing concluded on Wednesday, Farkas appeared to collapse, requiring medical assistance from Lewis County Jail staff, though he did appear to be responsive.

According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by the prosecutor’s office, at 1:44 p.m. on May 10, 2025, Farkas was allegedly observed driving a black Ford Mustang northbound on I-5 in Lewis County when he pulled up alongside a Dodge Charger, which happened to be the unmarked WSP vehicle, driven by a trooper who was transporting another suspect to jail at the time.

Farkas allegedly revved the Mustang’s engine several times before speeding off and being observed driving around 100 mph in a 70 mph zone. The trooper in the unmarked car radioed ahead to another trooper in a marked WSP and kept the Mustang in sight. 

The declaration of probable cause stated the Mustang driver slowed down to let the unmarked Charger catch up, where, “at one point, a female passenger leaned out the passenger window, lifted her shirt and ‘flashed’ (the trooper’s) vehicle.”

The WSP trooper stated he suspected the Mustang’s driver might be impaired, as the driver was allegedly having difficulty staying in their lane.

By the time the marked WSP could see the Mustang, the trooper clocked the vehicle traveling 149 mph in a 60 mph zone. The trooper activated his lights and siren and initiated pursuit, observing the Mustang cutting off traffic at speeds around 140 mph still.

At Exit 88 on I-5, the trooper in the marked vehicle lost sight of the Mustang and terminated the pursuit.

However, a Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) deputy soon spotted the Mustang at the 1900 block of Old Highway 99 and successfully stopped the vehicle.

They identified the driver as Farkas and his passenger as Sara C. England. The TCSO deputy “smelled a strong odor of intoxicants coming from Farkas” and radioed to WSP troopers his location.

Upon arriving at the scene, Farkas allegedly told the troopers he did not see any police vehicle lights or hear sirens. The trooper also noted he could smell intoxicants and observed that Farkas had watery eyes. 

According to the declaration of probable cause, Farkas refused to take field sobriety or blood alcohol content tests, leading troopers to obtain a search warrant for the blood test. Farkas was then booked into the Lewis County Jail.