A robbery at a grocery store in Auburn escalated into a dangerous police pursuit Tuesday afternoon, resulting in the arrest of four individuals, including three juveniles, and the recovery of illegally modified firearms.
Just before 4 p.m., Auburn Police responded to the Haggen store after an employee reported being threatened with a firearm during an attempted theft. The male suspect fled the scene in a blue Audi A4, which officers quickly located using traffic camera footage.
Officers attempted a traffic stop near Lakeland Hills Way Southeast, but the vehicle refused to pull over. The chase ended when officers used a PIT (pursuit intervention technique) maneuver to bring the car to a halt.
Police arrested three underage males and an adult woman at the scene.
Investigators say one of the teens was carrying three handguns—one of which was confirmed stolen. All three firearms had been illegally modified with switches that converted them into fully automatic weapons and were equipped with extended magazines for increased firepower.
All four suspects were booked on suspicion of first-degree robbery. Additional charges were filed, including second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a stolen firearm.
The juveniles were transported to Remann Hall Juvenile Detention Center in Tacoma, while the adult woman was taken to the Pierce County Jail.
A young child who was also found in the vehicle was safely turned over to a family member. Police later clarified that the officer who performed the PIT maneuver was unaware a child was inside the car at the time. Authorities emphasized that the safety of all individuals involved remains a top priority in high-risk situations like this.
