WSP aerial enforcement kept busy over Tri-Cities
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, August 22nd, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
KENNEWICK – The Washington State Patrol spent four days last week flying a Cessna aircraft over the Tri-Cities area looking for traffic violators. Trooper Chris Thorson said the agency’s aviation section was kept busy assisting ground units while flying overhead Wednesday through Saturday.
Highlights from last week’s WSP’s aerial enforcement included three vehicle pursuits in the Tri-Cities area where all three drivers were arrested and booked into jail.
Thorson said WSP provided air support to the Sunnyside Police Department after a driver hit a police patrol vehicle and fled. The suspect was not found.
Six aggressive vehicles were also stopped with speeds ranging from 80 to 128 miles per hour.
“The 128 was on Interstate 182 in Pasco,” Thorson explained.
Finally, WSP worked with the Richland Police Department regarding street racers. Thorson said nothing happened in the city during the aerial enforcement period.
