Officials announced that three teens have been arrested in connection with Sunday’s police chase that left a Washington officer dead.
According to The Spokesman-Review, Kent police officer Diego Moreno, 35, was struck and killed by another police car while deploying a spike strip to flatten the tires of a fleeing pickup truck. After hitting Moreno, other officer’s patrol car ran into three cars at a nearby intersection.
Kent police Commander Jarod Kasner said police responded at around 1:50 a.m. Sunday to reports of shots fired at Russell Road South and West Meeker Street. An officer who was in the area heard the gunfire and spotted a red pickup that matched the witness’ description, he said.
Kasner said that an officer, later identified as Moreno, was putting down a spike strip at Reith Road and Kent-Des Moines Road (Highway 516) when he was fatally struck. The red pickup had at least one flat tire when it reportedly crashed and flipped on Washington Avenue, about a mile away from where the strip was placed.
Moreno died at the scene. The second officer involved in the crash is reportedly in satisfactory condition.
One person was arrested at the scene. KIRO reported that two other suspects who fled were later taken into custody. It’s unclear what charges they’re facing.
Off the Wall "Please pass along to Mike that an officer that he got to meet during the filming of Returning the Favor…
Posted by Mike Rowe on Monday, July 23, 2018
“It is directly because of this suspect or suspects’ actions that led to this officer’s death,” Washington State Patrol District Commander Ron Mead said at Sunday’s news conference. “While that vehicle may not have been the one that struck the officer, make no doubt about it that had it not been for their actions this officer would be alive right now.”
From Venezuela, Moreno was an eight-year veteran with the police department. He leaves behind a wife and two children.
“The legacy that officer Moreno leaves with our community is indescribable, the type of husband, father, and police officer he was,” Kent Mayor Dana Ralph said of the fallen officer Monday, according to the Kent Reporter.
“There is a huge hole in our hearts, and it’s felt across the entire community, in the lives of every city employee and parts of every member of our police family.”
[Featured Image: Diego Moreno/Kent Police]
