A 37-year-old suspect was arrested on July 8 after instigating a chase with police and ramming four occupied cop cars in the process. His rampage eventually came to an end on Delridge Way S.W. when a sergeant pinned the suspect's SUV against a curb (seen above).
Update for July 25
Sothany Sok's arraignment for allegedly ramming four Seattle Police cars in West Seattle on July 8 has been postponed until August 8 so he can undergo a mental evaluation, according to the King County Prosecutor's Office.
A King County judge ordered the evaluation earlier today (July 25) to determine if Sok, 37, is competent to stand trial.
He is charged with four counts of second degree assault and one count of attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle. He remains in jail on $100,000 bail.
Original post on July 12
37-year-old Sothany Sok of West Seattle allegedly started off his Sunday morning intent on prodding police into a high-speed chase and, after ramming four SPD cruisers and causing an estimated $15,000 in damages, King County Prosecutors have charged him with four counts of second degree assault and one charge of attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle.
Charges were filed on July 11 and Sok is currently being held on $100,000 bail. His arraignment on those charges is set for July 25, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Probable cause documents released with the charges provide further details into the chase covered by the Herald on Sunday, July 8. The following is a summary from that probable cause document and all information is alleged until Sok is found or pleads guilty.
Detective Paul Suguro wrote that Sok allegedly initiated the chase around 8:15 a.m. while driving his lowered, oversize-rimmed 2004 Cadillac Escalade northbound on Harbor Ave S.W.
A Southwest Precinct lieutenant was also traveling northbound on Harbor Ave. that morning when he saw Sok rapidly approaching, accelerating towards him. The Lt. pulled over to allow the Escalade to pass and Sok revved his engine as he went by.
The Lt. continued northbound and Sok suddenly appeared behind him again, tailgaiting. The Lt. pulled over once again and Sok downshifted, causing his Escalade to lurch and rev as he passed.
Sok pulled into a 7-11 parking lot to get behind the Lt. and pulled the same stunt once again. At that point, the Lt. radioed that Sok appeared to be initiating a chase as he sped away at high speeds westbound towards Alki Ave S.W.
The Lt. pursued Sok, but maintained a safe speed and lost sight of the suspect. Turning onto 56th Ave S.W., Sok appeared once again, allegedly driving directly at the patrol vehicle. Just before the collision, police say Sok veered hard left, striking the patrol vehicle and a silver Kia. The impact pushed the Lt.’s vehicle several feet back.
Sok took off again and a full Southwest Precinct police chase was on. Sok traveled south on Harbor Ave, ignoring the flashing lights and sirens and “driving erratically,” according to charging documents. Spike strips were deployed to deflate his tires, but Sok swerved into a parking lot and avoided them.
Swerving back and forth across the full breadth of S.W. Spokane Street, police said Sok eventually made his way onto Delridge Way S.W., driving in a transit-only lane.
Two officers pulled alongside and in front of Sok’s SUV on Delridge in an attempt to slow him, but he allegedly rammed both of them out of the way. Another officer stopped his vehicle approximately 20 feet in front of the suspect. Sok allegedly accelerated into the fourth squad car, but the sergeant was able to accelerate as he was impacted, pinning Sok’s Escalade against the curb.
As police approached, the now-stuck Sok continued to rev his engine in an attempt to flee, but finally took his foot off the accelerator as he was surrounded and arrested.
Sok's bail was originally set at $30,000, but raised to $100,000 because "the defendant sought out confrontation with the police and appears to have intentionally rammed multiple occupied police cars posing a severe risk of injury," according to prosecutors.
The defendant has prior convictions for assault in 2010 and possession of marijuana in 2001 and 2002.