A Boise man is in the Ada County Jail following an early-morning high-speed police pursuit in which speeds reportedly reached some 120 mph.
David Tong, 25, was booked into the jail shortly before 5:30 a.m. Thursday on a variety of charges, including possessing stolen property (a vehicle) and eluding officers. Both are felonies.
Police say the incident began about 1:30 a.m., when a Meridian officer on patrol spotted a 2009 grey Nissan Ultima -- reported stolen the previous evening -- in Bear Creek Park, near Overland and Stoddard Roads.
“The officer approached the vehicle, but the driver sped away, (reportedly) doing 70 mph in a 40 mph zone,” said Meridian Police Deputy Chief Tracy Basterrechea.
The officer pursued the vehicle.
The driver got on Interstate 84 at Meridian Road, and headed eastbound. Speeds reached 120 mph, Basterrechea said. With little or no traffic on the Interstate at that hour, the officer was “well within policy” to pursue at such a high speed, he stated.
Ada County Sheriff’s Office deputies joined the chase.
The pursuit ended minutes later near the Gowen Road exit, when the Meridian officer initiated a PIT maneuver.
“The suspect was then removed from the vehicle at gunpoint,” Basterrechea added.
Tong also faces charges of a felony probation violation and two misdemeanors: driving without privileges (third offense) and driving under the influence of drugs (second offense.)
