WWPD arrests three suspects after pursuit, commercial burglary

By Dan Thesman on Friday, October 25th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

UPDATE

WALLA WALLA – (News release from Walla Walla Police Department) This updated press release contains additional information related to the press release issued earlier today regarding a vehicle pursuit. Future information surrounding the use of force that ended the pursuit will be released by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU). This updated press release contains information about the crimes that lead up to the pursuit and the search for the suspects after the pursuit.

When the vehicle pursuit ended, three suspects fled from the vehicle on foot. One of the suspects, 39-year-old John VanSwoll, was apprehended immediately without the use of force. Officers from the WWPD, College Place Police Department, Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol quickly established a containment perimeter around a field where the remaining suspects had fled. WWPD K9 Hoss was deployed to track the suspects. K9 Hoss, accompanied by his handler and two additional WWPD officers, tracked the scent through farm fields, dense brush, and crossed a chest deep river that was barely above freezing temperatures. College Place Police launched a drone to provide aerial surveillance during the search.

K9 Hoss successfully tracked the driver, 26-year-old Mikael Butler to a hiding spot near an outbuilding. With assistance from the drone pilot, the search team was able to pinpoint Butler’s exact location before making contact. Butler was taken into custody without using force. Both VanSwoll and Butler were evaluated by medical personnel and transported to the Walla Walla County Jail.

At approximately 7:02 AM, while the search was underway, WWPD received a report of a commercial burglary in the 00 block of S. 1st Ave. Officers responded and discovered that a business door had been forcibly opened, and a safe was stolen. Surveillance footage captured three suspects involved in the burglary.

Shortly after 9:00 AM, a property owner near the K9 search location contacted the police, reporting discarded clothing near his semi-truck. Officers arrived on the scene and located 39-year-old Baxter Solmonson inside the sleeper compartment of the truck. He was taken into custody without using force, evaluated by medical personnel, and transported to the Walla Walla County Jail.

The clothing worn by VanSwoll, Butler, and Solomonson matched the suspects seen in the surveillance footage of the burglary, linking them to the crime.

The suspects are facing the following charges:

John VanSwoll: Burglary 2nd Degree, Malicious Mischief 2nd Degree, Theft 1st Degree, Obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer
Mikael Butler: Burglary 2nd Degree, Malicious Mischief 2nd Degree, Theft 1st Degree, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Attempting to Elude a Police Vehicle.
Baxter Solmonson: Burglary 2nd Degree, Malicious Mischief 2nd Degree, Theft 1st Degree, Obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer, Vehicle Prowling 2nd Degree.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Walla Walla Police Department at (509) 527-4434.

We are very grateful for our local law enforcement partners. Your skill and professionalism were
instrumental in apprehending the suspects. We could not have done it without you all.

Photo of K9 track team via Walla Walla Police Department

POSTED EARLIER

WALLA WALLA – (News release from Walla Walla Police Department) At approximately 5:00 AM on October 25, 2024, Walla Walla Police Department patrol officers received a notification from Flock Safety, a network of license plate reader (LPR) cameras, advising of a stolen vehicle driving through town. The LPR system identified the stolen vehicle, prompting officers to respond to its location.

The vehicle was first encountered at the intersection of S. 3rd Ave. and Prospect Ave. by a responding officer. When the officer initiated a traffic stop, the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed eluding officers.

Additional officers joined the pursuit, and a plan was quickly put into action to deploy a tire deflation device, commonly known as spike strips, as a pursuit intervention technique. The spike strips successfully deflated the suspect vehicle’s tires, but one Walla Walla Police patrol car was also impacted by the spikes, causing that officer to cease pursuing.

Despite the deflation of the tires, the suspect continued southbound on Highway 125 and entered the northbound lane, driving into oncoming traffic and reportedly swerving at other motorists. In response to the escalating danger, a Walla Walla Police officer used their patrol vehicle to ram the suspect vehicle, bringing the pursuit to an end on Highway 125 near Frontage Rd.

Once stopped, multiple individuals fled the suspect vehicle on foot. After setting up containment and conducting a K9 track, officers arrested three suspects connected to the stolen vehicle and the pursuit. Walla Walla Police Department Major Crimes detectives will be investigating the criminal case surrounding the stolen vehicle and other associated crimes. Per Walla Walla Police Department policy, ramming a vehicle is considered a lethal use of force. In accordance with department protocols, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has been requested to conduct an independent investigation into the use of force during this incident. No members of the Walla Walla Police Department will be involved in the investigation of the force used during the pursuit.

The SIU is an independent investigative team comprised of officers and investigators from law enforcement agencies across the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla region.

A separate press release will follow outlining the details of other crimes associated with this pursuit. All future information regarding the vehicle pursuit and use of force will be released by SIU.