Police Department

Stolen BMW Recovery

Ofc. M. Brownell

Wednesday, July 4, 2018 at 9:44 p.m.

Spokane Police Department Night PACT Team and K9 Team, Recovered a stolen 2018 Black BMW X5 and arrested 10 Time Convicted Felon

On July 4^th, 2018, the Spokane Police Department Patrol Anti-Crime Team (PACT) and K9 Unit were involved in an incident involving a multiple time convicted felon who used a stolen vehicle to ram and elude police officers.

In the early morning hours of July 4^th, Officer W. Brooks with SPD PACT Team learned that Camp Chevrolet was the victim of a double vehicle theft (a report taken earlier in the day by SPD Patrol). Two BMW vehicles were stolen from Camp Chevrolet (1 was recovered close by).

The 2018 BWM X5 had GPS tracking software monitored by BMW. With a simple phone call, the PACT team was able to locate the stolen BMW X5 at the Northern Quest Casino. The PACT Team and K9 team set up surveillance on this vehicle and within minutes, observed two males get into this vehicle. Officers attempted to coordinate a block on the vehicle prior to it leaving the parking stall, however the vehicle was able to escape the blocking maneuver as it rammed through SPD K9 team member Officer Lesser and his partner K9 Murphy.

After the BWM rammed the Police vehicle, Officers initiated a pursuit for Assault on the Officer and Murphy. The vehicle eventually eluded Police officers as it fled northbound on N Hayford road. Officers learned of the vehicle’s location with the assistance of BMW.

Officers followed this vehicle via BMW’s GPS data up into Pend Oreille County. The stolen BMW X5 drove through USK and up into South Skookum Lake Campground. Once there, K9 Officer Lesser attempted to pin this vehicle in. The vehicle rammed through the pin again and drove back down the mountain. The BMW eventually stopped a couple miles away from the campground and Officer’s swooped in. K9 teams were there immediately and deployed their patrol dogs. Two passengers were apprehended by the K9’s and the driver was able to get away in the thick wooded area. Passenger Tanisha Ford and passenger Robert Screws were taken into custody for Taking Motor Vehicle without Permission. Both were later booked into jail.

Both the PACT Team and K9 teams abandoned the search for the driver for the night.

Through this investigation, the PACT team learned the driver of this vehicle who rammed K9 Officer Dan Lesser two times was 10 time convicted felon Jason R SiJohn.

On July 4^th, at approx. 1715 hours, members of the SPD PACT Team, US Marshals, Kalispel Tribal Police, Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office and SPD K9 Unit, took Jason SiJohn into custody at a friend’s house in Pend Oreille County. Jason was hiding underneath a bed and was easily found.

Jason was booked into jail for 2 counts of Assault against Officers, Attempt to Elude, and Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.

• Newer
• Older