Renton man charged after high speed chase at Deception Pass Bridge

Prosecutors charged 23 year old Bradley J. Aburto of Renton on December 12 in Island County Superior Court with attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle after a deputy described a late night pursuit across Deception Pass Bridge on February 10. The charge alleges that he did not stop and drove recklessly while fleeing an emergency vehicle, defined in court documents as “willfully failed and refused to immediately stop and drove the vehicle in a reckless manner while attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle that was equipped with lights and sirens.” Court records indicate Aburto has no criminal history.

Island County Sheriff’s Office records show the incident began at 3:11 a.m. when a deputy traveling south across the bridge clocked an oncoming gray Audi at 55 miles per hour in a 25 mile per hour zone. The deputy said the Audi slowed and pulled into a parking lot. The deputy then saw a green 1994 Chevrolet Suburban headed south across the bridge at about 60 miles per hour and conducted a turn to pursue.

The deputy reported that the Suburban’s driver turned off all lights in an apparent attempt to conceal the vehicle, prompting the deputy to activate lights and sirens and pursue. The vehicle pulled over at the intersection of Highway 20 and Cornet Bay Road. As the deputy began to exit his vehicle the driver fled, made a U turn and headed north toward the bridge. The deputy followed for less than half a mile as the Suburban strayed into the oncoming lane at a high rate of speed. The deputy terminated the chase for safety reasons citing slick roads and freezing temperatures.

Investigators traced ownership to the Suburban’s registered owner who said his son had traded the vehicle months earlier. The son said he traded the vehicle to Aburto. On February 22 Oak Harbor police stopped the Suburban for having no license plates and found Aburto driving.

The case highlights enforcement challenges on a narrow and heavily traveled state route where high speeds and adverse weather can increase risk to residents and visitors. Beyond the immediate charge the matter underscores how pursuit decisions balance officer safety and public protection, and it will proceed through Island County Superior Court where a sentencing range of zero to 60 days is available under standard guidelines.