Skagit County, WA- On October 30, 2015 around 7:45 pm, two Washington State Patrol Troopers were on routine patrol Eastbound on State Route 20, East of Sedro Woolley in Skagit County.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the Troopers observed a vehicle pull to the right to let someone pass, and then the driver proceed to immediately pass the same vehicle once they were back in the flow of traffic.
The Trooper, performed a u-turn and attempted to catch up to the vehicle. While the Trooper was attempting to catch up to the unknown driver, the driver made numerous unsafe passes.
Troopers attempted to obtain a speed of the vehicle and obtained readings of 114 mph in a 55 mph zone. Troopers finally caught up to the driver and obtained a speed of around 92 mph in a 55 mph zone. The driver also crossed the fog line by three tire widths.
Troopers activated their emergency equipment to bring the vehicle to a stop. The driver pulled to the right shoulder of the roadway and Troopers pulled in behind him. The driver then performed a u-turn and took off at a high rate of speed.
Troopers radioed that they were in pursuit and performed a U-turn to follow the vehicle. The eluding vehicle was consistently at speeds of around 90 mph for approximately ten minutes while the Troopers were in pursuit.
The driver pulled off the roadway and onto a dead end road, near Elders Boulevard just East of Sedro Woolley and exited the vehicle.
His vehicle was left placed in reverse, and came back towards the Troopers vehicle. The running vehicle pinned another Trooper in the door jamb as he attempted to exit his Patrol Car.
The Trooper was eventually able to escape from between the two vehicles. The defendant ran on foot, and a Trooper pursued him.
The Suspect was ordered to stop, but did not. The suspect then hid in some bushes and Troopers waited for backup from the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office and the Sedro Woolley Police Department.
The defendant climbed over a fence and was TAZED by the Trooper who had been previously pinned between the two vehicles. The suspect was then placed under arrest.
The damage caused to the patrol vehicle, placed it out of commission until it could be repaired.
Troopers arrested Guadalupe F. Barragan of Tacoma. He is being held in the Skagit County Jail on $50,000 bail for investigation of Driving under the influence, Driving while License suspended in the 1st degree, Resisting arrest, attempting to elude officers, Malicous Mischief 1st degree, and violation of driving under the Influence Restrictions for not having an interlock device installed.
The Trooper sustained Minor injuries in the incident.
