CLARKSTON, WA – The Lewis-Clark Valley SWAT Team was called in to assist with the arrest of a 28-year-old felon who led law enforcement officers on a high-speed pursuit between Lewiston and Clarkston Thursday afternoon. Dustin Pearson had a nationwide arrest warrant and officials had received information that he was at a home in the 400 block of 9th Street in Clarkston.
Pearson was reportedly wanted on a Felon in Possession of a Weapon charge and was seen driving a vehicle in downtown Lewiston at around 5:15 p.m. Thursday by an officer. He reportedly exceeded the speed limit multiple times in Lewiston and Clarkston so the pursuit was called off.
“Due to a previous incident involving Pearson involving a firearm, comments made that Pearson would not go into custody and reports he had a firearm when he eluded me, the decision was made to request the assistance of the SWAT team. Chief Hastings was contacted and gave permission for the request. I then spoke with Captain Reese from LPD and made the request for the SWAT team,” an officer says in a Probable Cause Affidavit.
A search warrant to enter the residence was obtained.
“CPD, ACSO, QCDTF and SWAT team members briefed in the Costco parking lot. A plan was in place to deploy a flash bang upon arrival of officers and then attempt to call Pearson out of the residence. Officers arrived on scene with patrol units providing perimeter coverage and the SWAT team driving the Bearcat to the front of the house. I watched as a flash bang was deployed. An operator then began giving verbal commands over the PA system that said Dustin Pearson you are under arrest and to come out with your hands up,” the court document says.
Shortly after the commands were given, Pearson exited the front of the house and was taken into custody. Four other individuals were briefly detained while the SWAT Team cleared the residence.
Pearson was booked into the Asotin County Jail at around 10:40 p.m. on a U.S. Marshals warrant. According to federal court records, he will make his initial appearance on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. in Spokane before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alexander C. Ekstrom.
