Deputy shoots, grazes suspect in head following chase

King County Sheriff's Office



SNOQUALMIE -- A King County sheriff's deputy shot a man in the head following a car chase early Thursday morning near Snoqualmie, officials said.

The bullet only grazed the 35-year-old man in the head and he was taken to Harborview Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

Deputies began chasing the man's van sometime late Wednesday night in North Bend after deputies tried to pull him over for outstanding warrants and driving without a driver's licence. The man was also reportedly naked while driving the van. However, deputies gave up pursuit as the chase went into a heavily forested area.

The suspect's van was again spotted pulled over to the side of the road around 2:30 a.m. near the intersection of 428th Avenue SE and SE Reinig Road. As deputies closed around the suspect's van, he allegedly took off and attempted to run over an officer, police said. A deputy pulled out her gun and fired one round at the vehicle, hitting the suspect in the head. The deputy, a seven year veteran, was uninjured.

Officials said the man is well-known by local authorities and will likely be booked following his release from hospital. The deputy has been placed on administrative leave.