Seattle man arrested for driving stolen SUV had $210,000 in outstanding warrants

According to the Seattle Police Department, the incident began just after midnight on Dec. 29, when an officer noticed an Audi SUV displaying a license plate registered to a Volkswagen Jetta. The mismatch led the officer to suspect that the vehicle had been stolen. When police attempted a traffic stop, the driver fled, violating multiple traffic laws as he escaped through city streets.

Officers then contacted the department’s Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) for help tracking the vehicle. An RTCC analyst located video footage showing the SUV driving at a high rate of speed through Belltown and traveling the wrong way down Bell Street.

Later that morning, the same officer spotted the same Audi near 1st Avenue and Bell Street and was able to identify the suspect. Police said the man had more than $210,000 in outstanding warrants, including an escape warrant totaling $150,000, an attempted burglary warrant for $45,000, and three burglary warrants totaling $25,050.

When the officer tried to catch up to the SUV again, the vehicle disappeared from view. A short time later, officers located the stolen Audi abandoned in a nearby parking lot. Police once again requested help from the RTCC, which reviewed video footage and found the suspect leaving the area. RTCC then shared an image of the man with officers, and the photo matched the driver.

Officers located the suspect at a nearby park and arrested him without further incident. During the arrest, police recovered an Audi key and stolen property belonging to the vehicle’s registered owner from the man’s pockets, according to authorities.

The suspect was booked into the King County Jail for possession of a stolen vehicle and the outstanding felony warrants. The Audi SUV was impounded from the scene as the investigation continues.