Moment man in yellow floral dress is arrested 'for stealing school bus then driving front loader through home he shared with his estranged wife' after being discharged from psychiatric hospital
A man wearing a yellow dress stole a school bus over the weekend, before driving a front-end loader construction vehicle through the home of his estranged wife in Chewelah, Washington.
A man in a bright yellow dress stole a school bus and led police on a chase, then drove a front loader into his estranged wife's home and wrecked it the day after he was discharged from a psychiatric facility, it is alleged.
Andrew S. Loudon, 39, was photographed being taken into custody Sunday night while wearing the summery outfit.
He allegedly stole a school bus from Osprey Rafting Co., shortly after being released from Western State Hospital - which treats patients suffering from mental illnesses - on Saturday morning.
Loudon was pursued by police, who had to give up due to new rules forbidding them from chasing a suspect not suspected of committing a felony. He got away, only to allegedly steal a front-loader on Sunday and slam it into his ex's house, after she was said to have fled the house at news he was looking for her.
Loudon is being held on charges of theft of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, first-degree malicious mischief/domestic violence and attempting to elude a police vehicle.
According to a press release from the Chelan County's Sheriff's Office, the incident was initially reported Saturday night, after employees of Osprey Rafting Co. witnessed Loudon driving the company’s privately owned yellow school bus.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to the vehicle driving eastbound near milepost 111, and witnessed the vehicle running a red light near Monitor, WA.
They tried to initiate a traffic stop but Loudon simply continued driving.
Due to Washington’s new police reform laws, law enforcement is no longer allowed to pursue a fleeing vehicle unless there is probable cause that a serious felony.
Loudon is being held on charges of theft of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, first-degree malicious mischief/domestic violence and attempting to elude a police vehicle.
Loudon then drove it through his estranged wife's home, supposedly flipping a car over as a result
Due to Washington’s new police reform laws, law enforcement is no longer allowed to pursue a fleeing vehicle unless there is probable cause that a serious felony
Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies followed Loudon eastbound on SR28 after he traveled through the city limits of Wenatchee and across the Senator George Sellar Bridge.
Deputies attempted to make a traffic stop, but Loudon refused to pull over, forcing law enforcement to end their pursuit.
Loudon eventually ditched the bus near Moses Lake and hitchhiked to Spokane and then Chewelah, where he allegedly stole the large front-end loader on Sunday and drove it through his estranged wife's home.
In the process of driving the front-end loader through his estranged wife's home, Loudon is said to have flipped a car over in the driveway.
Loudon then fled the home when she learned her estranged husband might be the area.
The Chewelah Police Department in Stevens County notified the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, who said they believed they had the bus-theft suspect in custody.
The suspect in question appeared to be wearing the same yellow dress.