Dashaud D. Cummings, right, and his lawyer face a judge this morning in Lewis County Superior Court.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The teenager who stole a police chief’s car, knocking down a trooper as he drove away and was finally caught in the woods off Interstate 5 was given a 29-month sentence today.
Dashaud D. Cummings, 17, was charged in adult court for the events of Aug. 10 that began with a pursuit down Interstate 5 that reached speeds of 100 mph, reached a golf course in Chehalis where he climbed into the Chehalis chief’s car while law enforcement officers looked for him, according to prosecutors. After striking the trooper as he backed up, Cummings drove north on Interstate 5, hitting two cars along the way and finally ditching the unmarked patrol car on the side of the roadway.
His passenger told police he didn’t have a license; he told police he was running because he didn’t want to get arrested for a warrant, according to charging documents.
“There was no reason for it,” Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead told the judge today.
Now Cummings has four felonies, he said.
The Lacey resident pleaded guilty this morning as charged, to second-degree assault, attempting to elude and theft of a motor vehicle as well as hit and run.
The trooper was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries, having been hit with the side of the car because its wheels were turned and landing on his hands and knee, according to authorities.
A plea deal was struck in which both sides would recommend Cummings get the top of the standard sentencing range and pay restitution for all the damage he caused, whether or not it was charged, according to Halstead.
Defense attorney David Brown noted to the judge his client has been respectful and wants to make some changes.
Judge James Lawler agreed with the 29 months.
Cummings’ family members sat behind him in the courtroom in Lewis County Superior Court in Chehalis.
“I would encourage you when you get out to do things differently,” Lawler said. “You’ve got people here supporting you, but that’s not going to go on forever.”
He alluded to some defendants who eventually end up in criminal court alone.
“Family can only take so much,” he said.
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For background, read “Lacey teen gets adult court in theft of police chief’s car case” from Wednesday August 31, 2016, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Interesting how the police are always telling us to keep our cars locked (good advice, BTW), yet the chief of the Chehalis PD gets his own ride boosted by a guy THEY’RE LOOKING FOR. There’s a message in there, perhaps “Do as I say…”
And I have my doubts that a black teenager from Lacey (a car thief, no less) is supporting anyone but Hillary, if he even knows who she is.
What Peabody Slim said. He’s right. And while it takes away that opportunity for some to experience that giddy feeling of “holier than thou,” we can no longer AFFORD to cater to that need to express moral superiority. It is just to damned expensive. Plus, it doesn’t work.
I bet he was a trump supporter… goes to show you can’t trust them.
I’m sure the usual internet fans will attack me for my comment, but I’m going to speak from my soapbox. After watching hundreds of documentaries on the ever so popular YouTube I have seen many different prison systems across the World. I’m going to use the England and American prison system as an example for comparison, England’s prisons systems practice Offender rehabilitation while American prisons practice Incarceration and prisons for profits. The English prison system has less violence in their prisons due to the benefits the offenders receive. The treatment is far superior to the offenders rehabilitation due to real programs that teach the offenders new skills and career opportunities they receive while taken out of society. Prison violence is decreased by this model of Offender treatment and is proven to rehabilitate most offenders because they learn skills and counseling. Our American prisons on the other hand provide the bare minimum to keep an inmate alive. The food served in American prisons is the lowest caloric intake that it take to sustain human life. Inmates are provided poor treatment programs and are caged for long periods of time. Most American prisons on the state level are a Inmate Crime School since they are not rehabilitated but only incarcerated. Americans know what awaits them in prison so the desire to escape is priority #1. Even the police in England carry fewer firearms and have alot less trouble arresting offenders because the offenders know how they will be treated. This Offender that stole the police car knows how he will be treated and realized that he must try to escape at all costs because their is no long term benafit for him in jail or prison. Until we change our Law and Justice system here in the US offenders will try to escape at all costs because of the treatment difference. Watch a few Eureopen prison documentary’s and you will see what I mean. Venezuela
decriminalized druseev it’s decrimilazation caused crime and drug use to fall. The War on Drugs needs to stop and Prisons need to be funded to make rehabilitation priority #1. Alcohol prohibition caused thousands to go blind and Gangsters, police and the Mafia killed and imprisoned thousands of people during the prohibition Era. Change the drug laws and crime, murder and corruption will fall to record low numbers. Until then expect more Citizens and police to be hurt and killed over the senseless drug war. In 50 years the drug war will be seen as alcohol prohibition is viewed now. History has proven itself to be repeated and true, yet our Government prefers to deny the people the freedom they were given by God.