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A sizeable chunk of Americans who end up in jail will find themselves back behind bars at some point after being released. That’s certainly the case with one man in Washington who is nearing the century mark when it comes to the number of times he’s been arrested, as he added another tally to a staggering total after a police chase that led to a surprising discovery in his vehicle.
Being arrested can serve as a wake-up call for many people who will make a concerted effort to avoid ever being subjected to a similar ordeal once they put it behind them. However, that can be easier said than done, especially if you end up spending an extended stint in jail or prison.
According to one study published by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 68% of state prisoners who saw their sentence elapse in 2005 were arrested within three years of their release, and that number rose to 83% when the timeline was extended to nine years.
That one didn’t focus on first-time offenders, but another that revolved around federal prisoners found that only around 30% of people who’d had no prior criminal history were arrested again after getting out.
However, multiple arrests tend to be a slippery slope that can send you careening into “career criminal” territory, and I think it would be safe to use that term to describe one man who recently managed to make headlines in the state of Washington.
A guy with a bong installed in the dashboard of his truck led police on a chase in Washington before he was arrested for the 98th time
According to KIRO, two suspects connected with a string of recent thefts at stores in western Washington were spotted in Lewis County on the evening of March 22, and police in Thurston County joined a high-speed pursuit that eventually made its way into downtown Olympia.
The chase was called off due to the dangerous maneuvers of the driver they were chasing, but a search was organized when the white pickup truck they were driving was found abandoned on the street in the suburb of Lacey.
Thurton County Sheriff Derek Sanders shared a video of the initial chase along with the moment a male and female suspect were taken into custody. Their identities have not been released, but the former had a rap sheet with four felonies and 27 misdemeanors—one that is poised to get longer after he was charged with a DUI, eluding, and possession of narcotics after being arrested for the 98th time.
A search of the vehicle turned up some of the merchandise that was reported stolen in addition to meth, heroin, fentanyl, and what was described as a “custom bong device built into the dash of the truck so he could comfortably smoke drugs while driving.”
What a world.