PORT ANGELES — Three Port Angeles residents were arrested Thursday evening after the conclusion of a five-block vehicle pursuit.
Arrested were Justin DeFrang, 35, Joshua L. Alumbaugh, 23, and Patricia Rose Stigall, 24.
DeFrang and Stigall were booked into Clallam County Jail, while Alumbaugh was cited and released.
The incident began at about 4:15 p.m., police said, when officers were dispatched to an in-progress theft reported at a store in the 600 block of East First Street.
While responding to the call, officers were advised a customer had purchased some items, concealed others, and had left the store.
He was reported to be in a black Chevrolet sport utility vehicle with Washington license plates.
Officer Andrew Heuett arrived and was directed to a person and vehicle by a store employee.
The vehicle, later identified by police as being driven by DeFrang, proceeded eastbound on E. First Street. Officer Heuett activated his emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop.
DeFrang turned southbound onto Eunice Street and continued on without yielding to Heuett, police said.
The vehicle made several turns and drove through one stop sign without stopping while maintaining speeds ranging from 25 to 45 miles per hour, police said.
As the Chevrolet was approaching Eighth Street, Heuett determined that using a pursuit intervention technique — referred to as a PIT maneuver — would be an effective and safe way to end the pursuit.
At this point, the vehicle had traveled over five blocks without yielding to a police vehicle with activated emergency lights and siren, and was traveling in the direction of a busy street, police said.
Sgt. Jason Viada, driving the secondary vehicle in pursuit, authorized Heuett to in carry out the PIT maneuver.
While the Chevrolet was traveling at approximately 25 mph near the intersection of East Seventh Street and Vine Street, Heuett used the PIT maneuver on the left rear corner of the vehicle.
The Chevrolet slid to the right, rotated in a counter clockwise manner over a curb, and came to a stop facing northwest.
Six people, including DeFrang, were removed from the vehicle and detained.
There were no injuries, police said.
There was minor damage to the Chevrolet, and damage to Heuett’s vehicle in the form of plastic trim, paint transfer to the bumper and bent push-bumper brackets.
Charges
DeFrang faces a potential felony charge of eluding a police vehicle. He also was wanted on $50,000 material witness arrest warrant from King County.
He remains in jail on no bond.
Stigall was arrested on a Clallam County District Court warrant for providing a false name to officers.
She remains in jail on a $700 bond.
Based their ongoing investigation of the theft, police will refer a fourth subject who has not been publicly identified to the Clallam
County Prosecutor for misdemeanor theft charges.
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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
