A Washington State man was arrested in Fort Bragg Thursday after allegedly stealing a truck that had been left unattended with its engine running in front of a motel, the Fort Bragg Police Department reported.
According to the FBPD, officers were dispatched to the Motel Six on South Main Street shortly after 7 a.m. Aug. 31 for a reported auto theft. When officers arrived, the victim told them "he had left his work truck, a 2022 Dodge Ram 1500, running in the parking lot to warm up while he retrieved an item from his room. When he returned, the truck was gone."
When an officer called the victim's work phone, which was still in his truck, the suspect reportedly answered it and initially agreed to return to the motel when asked to by the officer. However, when the suspect, identified as 34-year-old Shawn Wick from Pasco, Wash., drove closer and saw the officers, he reportedly drove away again.
Officers began a pursuit, but the FBPD reported that "because the suspect was heading towards a school zone just before children would be arriving, they discontinued the pursuit. A short time later, they found the suspect in another area east of Fort Bragg and the pursuit resumed."
At one point in the pursuit, Wick reportedly "headed directly for an FBPD officer, who had to swerve out of the way to avoid a collision." The pursuit later ended "when the suspect came to a stop at the intersection of Cedar Street and North Sanderson Way, where officers and MCSO deputies boxed him in with their patrol vehicles to prevent further danger to the public," and the FBPD reports that "Wick was taken into custody without further incident."
During his arrest, the FBPD reports that officers recognized Wick from an incident that occurred the previous day when "he had been involved in a collision (on Aug. 30) in Westport and brought to Adventist Hospital, where he refused treatment. Wick then walked to the FBPD, where officers and Social Services Liaisons from the Care Response Unit assisted him in contacting family and finding lodging."
Wick was booked into the Mendocino County jail on suspicion of vehicle theft, assault with a deadly weapon and evading an officer.
Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to contact Officer Baker of the FBPD at (707) 961-2800 ext. 226.
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