A Rochester man was arrested Sunday afternoon, April 3, after he allegedly robbed a convenience store, and then led local authorities on a wild car chase before plowing into another vehicle in McCleary.

Matthew Kevin Malone, 42, initiated the incident when he pulled a gun on a clerk at the 7-11 in Central Park before hightailing away from the scene.

“Elma (Police Department) officers observed the suspect traveling at high speeds eastbound on (Highway) 12 at Schouweiler,” said Elma Police Department Chief Susan Shultz in a report on Monday, April 4. “Attempts were made to stop the vehicle as it traveled through Elma at speeds ranging from 60 to 100 miles per hour.”

At one point, Malone was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Highway 12, which was when police officers terminated their pursuit until he ended up in the proper lanes of the roadway.

“Elma and McCleary officers continued the pursuit into McCleary where the pursuit came to an end,” Shultz said.

The pursuit ended shortly after 5 p.m. when Malone was involved in a crash with an unrelated vehicle at the intersection of South 3rd Street, Mox Chehalis Road and McCleary Road in McCleary.

At some time thereafter, a McCleary Police Department officer fired his service weapon. Malone was eventually taken into custody. Neither the suspect nor any of the officers involved were injured in the incident.

“Because this situation is under investigation, facts and circumstances leading up to the officer’s actions will be released at a later date,” Shultz said.

The incident resulted in the crash scene and surrounding area being blocked off for several hours. Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Washington State Patrol troopers assisted at the scene.

“As is standard practice in any officer-involved shooting, the officer has been placed on administrative leave,” Shultz said.

The Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation into the officer’s use of a firearm.

Malone is facing multiple charges stemming from the incident, including assault in the first degree and robbery in the first degree. He is being held without bail at Grays Harbor County Jail.