Federal Way police patrol vehicle stolen after foot chase, dumped in Auburn

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — A Federal Way Police Department (FWPD) patrol vehicle was stolen and dumped in Auburn Tuesday morning.

According to the FWPD, around 4:10 a.m., patrol officers were dispatched to an alarm at a Verizon cell phone tower on the 2100 block of South 324th Street. While there, officers saw two people running through the fenced area around the tower and chased them, police said.

Officers caught one suspect but lost sight of the other, who they believe "doubled back and stole a patrol car that was unoccupied, engine running and unlocked," a FWPD spokesperson said.

Using GPS, police said they tracked the vehicle to Auburn, where it was unoccupied upon the officers' arrival. Police said no equipment or weapons were missing from the car. The Auburn Police Department said no one was in custody and the suspect fled on foot. A K-9 unit was involved in the search, police said.

The suspect who was caught was arrested for burglary, according to police.

Officials believe the two men were likely trying to steal copper wire from the cell phone tower.

Later in the day, KOMO News spotted the previously stolen patrol car at the police station, which is now damaged. The patrol vehicle and the suspect's vehicle will be processed for evidence.

Recent crime in Federal Way

KOMO News recently reported on an increase in crime in Federal Way.

In February, 69 car prowls in less than 24 hours in Federal Way had the city’s mayor and police chief calling on lawmakers for help.

The damaged vehicles, with smashed windows, were parked throughout the city in various parking lots when they were hit Saturday night and into Sunday morning. In each case, police described the suspects as five juveniles in a stolen car.

"The word is out," Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell said. "The word is that if you want to commit a crime in this region, steal a car and then use that stolen car to commit robbery, vehicle, prowl, vehicle damage, burglary, whatever you want."

Ferrell and the city's police chief insisted the state's pursuit law has contributed to increased crime.