Wild Redmond stolen-minivan chase ends in K-9 bite, arrest

A Redmond man stole a minivan and led police on a wild chase Friday, interrupted by a trip through a McDonald’s drive-thru and officers’ use of spike strips — twice — that shredded all four tires, police said. The driver eventually was caught with the help of a police K-9’s bite.

Police Lt. Curtis Chambers said that around 8:45 a.m., a Knife River Construction worker on the Southwest Canal Boulevard reconstruction project noticed a suspicious man looking through a white minivan, then driving away in it from Canal Boulevard and 25th Street.

Redmond police responded and spoke with the owner of the stolen minivan.

Around 9:30 a.m., a concerned citizen called Deschutes County 911 dispatchers to report a white minivan had run a stop sign at the intersection of Southwest Wickiup Avenue and Helmholtz Way, Chambers said. Police and sheriff’s deputies responded to the area to look for the minivan, believing it might be the stolen one.

Shortly before 10 a.m., a Redmond officer spotted the minivan, heading north on Canal Boulevard and approaching the roundabout at Southwest 27th Street and Yew Avenue.

Two Redmond officers tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver took off, speeding to more than 50 mph in a residential area. Officers were able to see the driver and recognized him as David Giovanini, 53, of Redmond.

Chambers said officers terminated the pursuit due to the unsafe driving by the suspect and the unnecessary risk that posed to the public.

Shortly after 10 a.m., an officer spotted the stolen minivan at the drive-thru of the McDonald’s on South Highway 97.

An officer set up spike strips, and as other officers began to arrive, the man again drove away, driving over the spike strips and weaving his way through several Redmond police vehicles, actually hitting one and causing minor damage, Chambers said.

Officers pursued the minivan on South Highway 97 as Giovanini made several U-turns on the highway — all the while, at least one tire was deflating. Spike strips were again successfully deployed on the minivan, but once again, officers called off the chase, based on the man’s reckless driving.

A few minutes later, the minivan was spotted again, this time driving on Canal Boulevard with four deflated tires that were tearing apart, and the vehicle was nearly driving on the steel wheel rims, Chambers said. Officers followed the minivan until it finally became disabled on Southwest Timber Avenue at 21st Street.

Once stopped, Giovanini did not at first obey commands to get out, but eventually emerged from the minivan, continuing to not follow commands.

When the man ran back toward the driver’s seat and began to get in, Redmond Officer Josh Powers deployed his K-9 partner, Maverick, which bit the suspect while he was retreating into the vehicle, Chambers said.

Officers pulled Giovanini from the passenger side of the minivan and put him on the ground, arresting him without further incident.

Giovanini suffered minor injuries to his leg from the dog bite, as well as scratches to his face from coming into contact with the roadway, Chambers said. Police took him to St. Charles Redmond for a medical evaluation, eventually releasing him to the hospital’s custody.

Chambers said Giovanini was arrested on numerous crimes, including car theft, three felony counts of attempting to elude police, reckless driving, recklessly endangering another person, interfering with a police officer and second-degree criminal mischief. A report will be forwarded to the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office for review and formal charging, Chambers said.

“The Redmond Police Department attempts to balance the need to capture a suspect with the need to keep the community safe,” Chambers wrote in a news release. “The decisions made by officers and supervisors in the field are based on the information known to law enforcement at that moment.”

“Hindsight is always 20/20, but the rapid pace of dynamic incident necessitates quick action and decision-making,” the lieutenant added. “It is our hope the actions of your police department today were reflective of your highest expectations of law enforcement.”

Police also thanked the Knife River employee who reported the man’s suspicious behavior and reminded everyone to call police if they see unusual or suspicious activity.