Jail Escapee Who Shot LASD Officer in South El Monte Arrested in Washington State

By Andrea Olivas and Terry Miller

Suspect Rams Officers After Dangerous Pursuit

Darnell and Tania Washington were arrested in Washington state Wednesday in connection with several crimes in that state in addition to attempted murder of a peace officer. The information confirmed by telephone by a public information officer in Washington State.
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officials say that 24-year-old robbery suspect Darnell Washington escaped from county jail on August 28 with the help of his wife, 25-year-old Tania Washington.
On Sunday morning Sept 2, at the 7-Eleven on Peck Road in South El Monte, an L.A. County Sheriff’s deputy came across a white SUV that had been involved in a robbery a few days earlier, according to the department. The LASD deputy tried to make contact with the driver, later identified as escaped inmate Darnell Washington when the suspect allegedly attempted to kill the deputy.
Darnell and Tania then carjacked a different vehicle near the 7-Eleven. And after driving it to South Gate, they allegedly carjacked yet another vehicle.
According to a press release issued Wednesday by Cindi West of Kings County, Washington around 9:00 Wednesday a SeaTac Police Officer pursued and eventually apprehended a man and woman who were driving a California murder victim’s stolen car and are suspects in a crime spree in California including Escape and Attempted Murder of a police officer . The couple has been identified as Darnell and Tania Washington.
The incident started just before 9 this morning when a SeaTac Officer ran the license plate of a blue Subaru station wagon that was parked near 18800 block of 32 Ave S. The plate returned stolen and as the officer attempted to contact the occupants, the vehicle took off southbound, ramming the officer’s car as it sped away.
A pursuit ensued and the car was boxed in by SeaTac police cars near S188 and Pacific Hwy. The female driver jumped into the back seat and the male passenger got into the driver’s seat. The male repeatedly rammed the police cars trying to escape in the vehicle. When the male could no longer move his car the pair was ordered out of the car by police at gunpoint.
-Courtesy of SB Sheriff’s Dept.

A 25 year old woman and her 24 year old husband were taken out of the car and detained. Officers learned that the male had escaped from the San Bernardino County Jail on August 28 with the aid of the female. California authorities believe the pair went on a crime spree after the escape.
The male is also suspected of the attempted murder of a police officer on Sunday, September 2. On that day a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy approached a suspicious vehicle in the City of South El Monte. An exchange of gunfire ensued between the deputy and suspect. The suspect shot and wounded the deputy with a shotgun.
Additionally, on October 5, a 55 year old teacher was found stabbed to death in her home in the City of Hercules near San Francisco. Her blue Subaru station wagon was missing after the murder. That stolen Subaru was the vehicle stopped and the occupants arrested by the SeaTac Officer this morning near S188th and Pacific Hwy. A shotgun was also found in the vehicle. Hercules Police Department officials are not naming the suspects in the murder but plan to interview the Darnell Washington about the incident and why they were in the victim’s stolen car.
Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office and Hercules Police Department are investigating if the pair committed a number of other crimes including carjacking and robbery while traveling their way from Southern California to Northern California.
Detectives from the City of SeaTac will also contact police agencies in Oregon and Washington to see if the pair may have committed crimes in these states.
The couple has been booked into the King County Jail.

More from Arcadia Weekly