Sunnyside Police Department

News Release

-- For immediate release --

10/02/09 0900 hours

Contact:          Charlotte Hinderlider

(509) 836-6222 office (509) 307-3826 cell

                                Sunnyside Police Department Main Number (509) 837-2120

Eluding

Sunnyside, WA- At approximately 11 pm last night Officer Scott Orate initiated a traffic stop on a Honda Civic in the 300 block of North 9^th St. In spite of the emergency lights the Honda continued northbound on 9^th St and continued at a high rate of speed away from the Officer. The Honda continued through the stop sign at N. 9^th St and proceeded westbound on North Ave traveling at speeds in excess of 60 mph in a marked 25 mph zone.

The driver then turned onto Rohman, continued through the stop sign at Scoon and proceeded northbound on Scoon traveling at speeds in excess of 100 mph in a 35 mph zone. The Honda ran the stop sign at Van Belle and continued northbound on Scoon Rd, continuing the high rate of speed. The driver then ran the stop sign at Scoon and Independence and began traveling westbound on Independence accelerating to speeds in excess of 120 mph. The driver entered the oncoming land of traffic to pass a semi truck, then ran the stop sign at Independence and Dekker and proceeded southbound on Dekker. The driver then ran the stop sign at Van Belle and Dekker and turned eastbound on Dekker then northbound on Lowry Rd. The driver ran the stop sign at Lowry and Hudson and began traveling westbound onto Hudson. Turning south on Dekker the driver ran the stop sign at Dekker and Van Belle turning eastbound onto Van Belle. The driver then turned northbound on Lowery and continued northbound until Lowry became a dead end. The driver then turned eastbound onto a canal access road and came to a stop just off of the road.

The driver, Mauricio Cuevas, DOB 07/11/1988 fled on foot from the scene, the passenger a 13 year old male was taken into custody and transported to the Sunnyside Police Department where he was released to his mother. The passenger is not facing charges at this time.

Assisted by Officer Ryan Bruso and a Yakima County Sheriff’s Deputy, Officer Orate contacted the residence of Cuevas in search of him. Attempts to locate Cuevas were unsuccessful and Sunnyside Police are looking for him at this time.

Suspect Information:

Cuevas, Mauricio

                DOB: 07/11/1988

                City of Residence: Sunnyside, WA

                Charges:                RCW 46.61.024(1)                 Eluding

                                                RCW 9A.40.040    Unlawful Imprisonment

                                                RCW 46.37.050                     Defective Tail Lights

                                                RCW 46.20.342.1C                DWLS 3rd Degree

Additional Information:

• This is Sunnyside Police Department case number 09-9419.

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