LONGVIEW — A Vancouver woman is facing charges after allegedly stealing a vehicle with a dog in the back seat and leading police on a chase on Interstate 5 on Wednesday afternoon.
Elizabeth J. Johnson, 19, of Vancouver was in Kalama when she stole Honda with a pet husky in the back seat, according to the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office.
As Johnson was driving away from the 2400 block of Kalama River Road, a person attempted to stop the suspect but was struck by the fleeing vehicle.
The suspect headed south on I-5, pursued by Cowlitz County deputies, Kalama and Woodland police officers and Washington State Patrol troopers.
A Woodland police officer deployed spike strips, flattening the tires on the Honda and ending the pursuit, according to police. Deputies and officers managed to corner the vehicle on an I-5 onramp in Woodland.
The suspect ignored police orders to surrender, the sheriff’s office said, prompting law enforcement to break the vehicle’s window and use chemical agents to take the suspect into custody.
Johnson was booked into the Cowlitz County Jail facing allegations of robbery, assault, theft of motor vehicle, attempt to elude, resisting arrest and taking a pet animal.
Bail was set at $20,000 Thursday after her first appearance in Cowlitz County Superior Court.
The dog was returned to the owner uninjured.
