SANDPOINT - A Washington state man accused of ramming a truck into the Spirit Lake Police chief's vehicle during a pursuit last summer entered an Alford plea Monday to battery on a law officer.

Brian Smiley Solorio entered the plea under a provision of law in which a defendant does not acknowledge guilt but concedes the prosecution has enough evidence to gain a conviction.

Solorio, 42, of Spokane, faces up to five years in prison when he's sentenced on Jan. 6. Sentencing recommendations in the case are pending.

Solorio was also charged with possession of stolen property and felony-level charges of eluding and injury to property following the June incident in southwestern Bonner County.

Solorio entered onto timberland owned by the Inland Empire Paper Co. off Highway 41 in a fuel truck that was reported stolen from the tarmac at Felts Field in Spokane. The truck was reportedly painted with graffiti and the declaration "I hate people."

Solorio damaged a paper company gate, drove through a barbwire fence was seen driving in circles in a field, according to court documents. Spirit Lake Police responded, but Solorio took off.

After a brief pursuit, Solorio put the Ford flatbed truck into reverse and rammed the driver's side of Spirit Lake Chief Keith Hutcheson's Dodge Magnum. Solorio managed to give his pursuers the slip by going off-road, something for which Magnums are poorly suited.

Solorio was arrested without incident the following day, after he wandered onto property off Paisley Road.

In exchange for the plea to the felony battery charge, the other charges were dismissed, according to court documents.

Solorio is diagnosed with several mental health disorders and told the court after his arrest that he was off his medications when the interstate crime spree occurred.