POST FALLS — A wanted Washington man is suspected of leading police on a vehicle chase in Post Falls on Sunday morning after allegedly stealing items with another male from the Walmart on Mullan Avenue.

Richard M. Peterson, who is wanted in Washington for DUI, allegedly led police on a chase after he was pulled over at Greensferry Road and Mullan Avenue west of Walmart.

"Before the officer got to the side of the truck, (the suspect) took off," Post Falls Police Capt. Greg McLean said.

Peterson remained at large on Monday.

The suspect drove northbound on Greensferry around 10:15 a.m. before officers terminated the pursuit at 12th and Idaho because the public's safety was being jeopardized in the residential area, McLean said.

At one point, the suspect's pickup, a 1975 primer-gray Chevy pickup, reached about 80 mph in the city.

Police terminated the pursuit when it reached about 70 in a 35 mph zone.

"I observed the truck not even attempt to slow down and barrel through the busy main intersection (at 12th and Idaho)," the police report states. "The truck was traveling so fast it appeared it caught air from the roadway and, as the truck passed through the intersection, a dark-colored SUV traveling southbound on Idaho Street nearly missed being T-boned."

The truck struck a car driven by Amy Cannistraci at 12th and Spokane streets, causing moderate damage to the passenger side of her car.

The vehicle and driver description of the suspect Cannistraci provided police matched that of one of the Walmart theft suspects and driver in the corresponding pursuit.

McLean said a witness in another vehicle associated with Cannistraci followed the fleeing truck to the stateline before losing sight of it behind Nashville North.

"He's very lucky that somebody didn't get hurt," McLean said of the suspect. "That's why our officers called off the pursuit. He was driving too fast in a neighborhood."

The passenger and other Walmart theft suspect had not been identified as of Monday.

The suspects allegedly stole about $500 worth of merchandise, including a TV, household items and toys.

A Walmart asset protection employee notified police of the alleged crime and provided suspect information. An officer then spotted the truck on Mullan Avenue before attempting to pull over the driver.