WWPD officer and suspect collide during pursuit
By Dan Thesman on Tuesday, February 1st, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – The Washington State Patrol has been asked by the Walla Walla Police Department to investigate a collision that occurred between an officer and a suspect following a bicycle pursuit Monday night. It all started at 10:22 p.m. when an WWPD officer was attempting to stop Michael Aichele, 41, of Walla Walla near the intersection of Palouse and Rose streets.
Police said Aichele was riding in the dark without proper safety equipment on his bicycle, which is required by state law. When a WWPD officer activated his lights to get Aichele to stop, he attempted to ride away from the officer. Officers pursued Aichele throughout the downtown area. During the pursuit, an officer noticed Aichele was wearing a coat that was described to have been stolen in a recent vehicle prowl in Walla Walla.
As officers began to set up a perimeter around Aichele, he suddenly changed directions and met a WWPD patrol car head on, hit the front end of the vehicle and was knocked to the ground.
Aichele was taken into custody and medics transported him to Providence St. Mary Medical Center where he cleared by a physician and then transported to the Walla Walla County Jail. He was booked for failure to stop/obey a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, and for having an outstanding local warrant for his arrest.
