Car theft suspects caught in irrigation ditch

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake woman, Tomie Gonzalez, 21, and a 16-year-old were apprehended early Sunday morning after a high-speed chase ended in an irrigation ditch, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were dispatched to George at 4 a.m. on Sunday for a report of a vehicle theft. Gonzalez and the juvenile were reportedly seen by a witness pushing a vehicle, which had been reported as stolen in Moses Lake a few hours earlier, GCSO stated. Ephrata Police Department located the second vehicle by 4:30 a.m. driven by the suspects south on Dodson Road.

According to the sheriff’s office, the suspects sped away at over 100 mph when officers attempted to pull the vehicle over. Officers stopped pursuing when the suspects drove into oncoming traffic.

Sheriff’s deputies spotted the second vehicle as it turned eastbound on Road 5 Northwest near Moses Lake, where speeds again exceeded 100 mph as pursuit was given. The suspects ended up in a large irrigation ditch, submerging the vehicle.

The suspects were not injured.

They were booked on charges including two counts of theft of a motor vehicle, two counts of possession of a stolen motor vehicle, as well as multiple attempts to elude a pursuing police vehicle, the sheriff’s office stated.