Man clung to hood of fleeing car after interrupting catalytic converter theft, according to Mountlake Terrace police

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash. — A suspected catalytic converter thief was caught in the act Thursday and attempted to flee from the scene in Mountlake Terrace, taking police on a chase.

Police say the regional manager of the Vineyard Park, a retirement community in Mountlake Terrace, witnessed a man jacking up an unoccupied car and confronted the man.

When the suspect got into his car, the manager tried to prevent the man from leaving by standing in front of the car, but the suspect accelerated towards the manager and the manager ended up on the hood.

Police say the suspect drove away with the manager on the hood. The manager eventually fell off the car, but is reported to be OK.

“He would do anything for these residents,” said Aaron Richards, an employee at Vineyard Park senior living. “He loves this building and the residents love him and he’s great. So it doesn’t surprise me at all,” he said.

Officers chased the suspect, but police say when he continued to drive recklessly through neighborhood streets, they called off the chase.

After the suspect got onto the I-5 and headed north, he abandoned his car on the side of the freeway, near the 44th Avenue exit in Lynnwood.

The suspect took his jack out of the car and attempted to hide it off the shoulder of the road. He then ran off into the woods.

Police were able to locate the suspect and he was taken into custody.

He was arrested for hit and run, assault, vehicle prowling, reckless driving and drug possession.

Cox Media Group