PoliceActivity

Suspect in Stolen Box Truck Rams Patrol Cars To Escape Arrest

Added 2023-03-08 17:22:40 +0000 UTC

Pierce County, Washington – On February 7, 2023, deputies were dispatched to reports of a stolen box truck parked in a driveway near 192nd St E and 79th Ave E in the South Hill/Graham area. When deputies arrived, they confirmed the truck was stolen and saw a male driver, identified as 32-year-old Andrew Aaron Avary, a female passenger, and a dog asleep inside it. There was also drug paraphernalia in the truck. Deputies knocked on the window and ordered Avary to exit the stolen truck. Avary was not compliant and refused to show his hands. When the deputy attempted to open the door, Avary closed it. The deputy broke the window, but Avary started the truck and put it in reverse before deputies could remove him from the vehicle. Avary rammed both patrol cars multiple times and then sped away.

Neither deputy could follow Avary because both cars were heavily damaged. Avary ran over stop sticks and one of the tires started to deflate. A K9 deputy spotted the truck, and a pursuit was authorized since deputies believed Avary was impaired. The truck collided with another vehicle and came to a stop in a ditch. Avary fled on foot, but the passenger remained in the vehicle. Deputies were unable to catch Avary. A few days later, he was spotted in another stolen vehicle. When deputies tried to stop him, he sped off again. Deputies were unable to pursue him this time since possession of a stolen vehicle is not a pursuable offense. On Feb. 14, deputies located Avary on foot and apprehended him before he could get behind the wheel of another vehicle and speed away.