Submitted by Fox First at Ten on October 12th
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE FROM THE SPOKANE POLICE DEPT: PACT officers arrested a convicted felon, Craig Beal, late Thursday night after he recklessly drove a stolen SUV into a car and then into a building. The crash occurred at the intersection of Monroe and Sinto just before 10:30pm. The 30-year old drove a stolen 1999 Dodge Durango through a stop sign, struck a Subaru station wagon that was northbound and then accelerated into the front windows of Empire Office Furniture.
Officer Wheeler from the Patrol Anti-Crime Team observed Beal driving reckless in the area and attempted to stop the vehicle, just prior to the collision, using emergency lights and siren. After the crash, it was discovered the Durango had been reported stolen earlier in the day, taken in a Spokane Valley burglary.
Beal is a convicted felon for stealing vehicles and has a 13 year criminal history to include arrests for Identity Theft, Possession of Stolen Property, and Burglary. He was taken to the hospital, where it was determined he had no injury from the collision. Beal will be booked into jail for Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle, Attempt to Elude, 1st Degree Malicious Mischief, DUI-Drugs, Hit & Run, and Driving While License Suspended. Thankfully, the female driver of the Subaru had only a sore hand.
The Spokane Police Department is committed to reducing property crime in our community by arresting those responsible and holding them accountable. If you become a victim of a property crime, please report it to Crime Check at 456-2233.
