Man Arrested After Yanking Female State Trooper Out Of Patrol Car, Stealing It, Then Leading Police In High Speed Chase

A 24-year-old man yanked a female Washington State Patrol lieutenant from her cruiser on Christmas Day, stole the vehicle, and led troopers on a high-speed chase along Interstate 5, authorities said.

Alexander Eugene Smith now faces charges of robbery, attempting to elude, possession of a stolen vehicle, assault, and driving under the influence. He told officers he had smoked meth before the incident, according to an arrest report obtained by KOMO News.

Smith refused to appear at his first court hearing Friday afternoon. A bond hearing was scheduled for Saturday at the King County Jail.

The incident began around 11 a.m. Thursday when troopers responded to reports of a person walking on I-5 near Northgate Way in Seattle. Smith refused to leave the highway and ran through lanes of traffic, the arrest report states. (RELATED: Woman Leads Police On 155-Mile Chase From US Into Mexico, Makes Incredible Time Without Speeding)

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: A man in Seattle is in police custody after stealing a patrol car from a Washington State Patrol lieutenant … and exclusive new video shows the suspect shoving the cop to the ground and taking off in her car. pic.twitter.com/69zxNv2189

— TMZ (@TMZ) December 25, 2025

A lieutenant arrived at the scene in her patrol car and approached Smith. He opened her door, pulled her out of the vehicle, and took off in the cruiser, according to the video which captured the incident.

Troopers immediately pursued the stolen patrol car northbound on I-5 from Seattle to Everett. Smith then exited the highway, turned around, and sped southbound.

Traffic camera footage captured troopers using a PIT maneuver to disable the stolen cruiser.

Officers arrested Smith at the scene. He refused to identify himself, and troopers located his driver’s license during a search.

“A trooper searched him on scene and found two glass pipes with dark looking tar burned residue,” the arrest report states. “Later, Smith stated smoking meth earlier.”

Smith remains in custody at the King County Jail.