PORT ANGELES — A vehicle pursuit through Clallam County and Port Angeles ended with one man’s investigation for attempting to allude, driving under the influence of drugs and driving with a suspended license.
Benjamin Lester, 30, of Port Angeles was arrested and booked into the Clallam County Jail, where he remained Monday in lieu of $20,000 bond.
About 2:40 a.m. Friday, Clallam County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Sergeant Harold Edwards noticed a silver passenger car driving through Port Angeles with no license plates.
Edwards attempted to initiate a traffic stop, according to a press release. Instead of stopping, however, the driver sped up and failed to stop for a red light at the intersection of U.S. Highway 101 and Monroe Road.
The vehicle continued to travel southbound at a high rate of speed and did not stay on the right side of the road, crossing the center line five or six times between Highway 101 and Draper Road and reaching speeds of about 80 mph, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Based on the driving pattern, Edwards suspected the driver was driving under the influence, according to the press release.
Other deputies on shift helped ending the pursuit safely. Deputy Cody Brooks deployed stop sticks around the intersection of Mount Pleasant and Bayview Park Lane. That deflated the right driver’s side tire and, after passing the intersection of Del Guzzi Drive and Highway 101, the vehicle swerved to the left.
The driver then started traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of traffic. Edwards discontinued the pursuit due to safety reasons, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Shortly afterward, Brooks located the vehicle traveling eastbound on Fifth Street from Liberty Street in Port Angeles. He attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver continued westbound, “driving recklessly and failing to maintain its lane of travel, and disregarding all traffic signs,” the press release stated.
Sparks were seen coming from the vehicle as it passed Chambers Street.
The vehicle stopped shortly afterward just north of the alley between Fourth and Fifth streets on Laurel Street. The driver then ran northwest.
Eventually, the man tripped and fell and Brooks pinned him to the ground.
