A man with a meth addiction has been arrested after allegedly dragging a Washington state trooper from her patrol car on a Seattle freeway and fleeing in the stolen vehicle, according to police reports.
Alexander Eugene Smith, 24, was taken into custody following the brazen heist in broad daylight, which ignited a high-speed police chase. Authorities managed to stop him by ramming the stolen cruiser on a busy highway just before noon.
A Washington State Patrol trooper discovered Smith lying on the sidewalk along Interstate 5 around 11 a.m. after responding to reports of someone walking erratically across traffic.
In astonishing video footage, Smith appears to stagger across the freeway, weaving dangerously, until a marked police SUV approached.
He then opened the driver’s door of the marked cruiser, pulled the officer out, and sped off as she desperately tried to restrain him.
Officers pursued the stolen police vehicle as it raced down one of Washington’s busiest highways. The chase ended when they forced the vehicle onto the shoulder and took Smith into custody, according to the arrest document.
The lieutenant involved reportedly suffered minor injuries during the incident. Multiple police vehicles were damaged in the attempts to stop Smith.
Earlier in the day, Smith, who initially didn’t provide his name, was found with two glass pipes containing black residue at the scene, indicating meth use.
He now faces charges including robbery, assault on a police officer, possession of a stolen vehicle, and driving under the influence.
Smith opted not to attend his arraignment on Friday and is expected back in court on Saturday afternoon. He remains in custody at the King County Jail.
