News

Man wanted in Maryland rams through security gate in Bothell

BOTHELL, Wash. — A man wanted in Maryland on a larceny warrant rammed through the security gate at a gated community in Bothell while fleeing from officers.

On Tuesday at 12:06 a.m., an officer patrolling the parking lot of an extended stay hotel noticed an SUV parked in the lot that had its lights on but no one appeared to be outside.

When the officer turned on his spotlight and got out to investigate, a black man sat up in the rear passenger seats then quickly moved to driver seat and started the SUV.

The officer then ordered the man to raise his hands, roll down the window and stick hands out.

According to probable cause documents, the man told the officer he came to hotel to sleep because he had a fight with his “baby mama” and produced identification for Andrew P. Woods of Maryland.

When the officer did a name check and ran the vehicle’s plate, he found that Woods had a felony warrant for larceny out of Maryland.

The officer said he then noticed he could no longer see Woods’ hands.  After the officer ordered Woods to show him his hands and turn off the vehicle three times, Woods quickly moved his hands to the steering wheel and gear selector and sped off, reaching speeds of more than 40 mph in the parking lot while skidding and nearly hitting parked vehicles, police documents said.

The officer notified dispatchers of the direction he fled and another officer caught up with Woods on State Route 527 Southeast, reaching speeds of 80-100 mph while heading southbound.

The pursuing officer said he briefly lost sight of the vehicle, but believed Woods had turned onto Northeast 196th Street at a gated community.  The SUV was found crashed through a fence and into a wooded ravine.

Officers found the vehicle was empty.  After setting up a perimeter, a K-9 unit found Woods and he was arrested.

During the investigation it was discovered that the gated community on Northeast 196th Street had a damaged security gate that was caused when Woods rammed them with his SUV, which caused them to open.