Clallam aims to bring back man who allegedly shot at officers

James Sweet is shown in Clallam County Superior Court during a hearing this year on a variety of charges in connection with an alleged shootout with Port Angeles police and Clallam County Sheriff’s deputies on U.S. Highway 101 on May 28, 2016. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

James Sweet is shown in Clallam County Superior Court during a hearing this year on a variety of charges in connection with an alleged shootout with Port Angeles police and Clallam County Sheriff’s deputies on U.S. Highway 101 on May 28, 2016. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

PORT ANGELES — An arrest warrant has been issued for a man who allegedly shot at four law enforcement officers at a busy Port Angeles intersection in May 2016.

James Edward Sweet, 37, will be taken to the Clallam County jail after his current prison term expires Thursday, a Clallam County Superior Court Judge ruled Friday.

Judge Brian Coughenour issued the bench warrant at the request of Clallam County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Michele Devlin.

“This is to ensure that he does not hit the pavement,” Devlin told the judge in a 12-minute hearing Friday.

“He comes to Clallam County. He needs to be held here on the amount of bail.”

Sweet has a $1 million bail for crimes he allegedly committed in Port Angeles on May 26, 2016.

He allegedly fled after an attempted traffic stop in east Port Angeles and crashed a car into another vehicle at the intersection of U.S. Highway 101 and Monroe Road.

Sweet shot at Officer Whitney Fairbanks from inside the vehicle and later shot at Fairbanks, Officer Dallas Maynard, Cpl. Kori Malone and Clallam County Sheriff’s Sgt. Shaun Minks from the northwest corner of the busy intersection in broad daylight, according to the probable cause statement.

Sweet has been serving a prison sentence at the Monroe Correctional Complex in Snohomish County for a 2014 conviction for attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle and heroin possession.

Devin said the state Department of Corrections twice disregarded a transport order to bring Sweet to Clallam County for hearings on the local charges.

Sweet participated in Friday’s hearing by phone.

“We have tried to contact DOC in order to ensure that he will be transported immediately here [Thursday], as he is on conditions of release on $1 million bail,” Devlin said.

“We have been told by three different people that they are just going to release Mr. Sweet. The problem I have with that is listening to Mr. Sweet’s prison calls, and I quote: ‘They would sure be an idiot if they did’ and ‘you aren’t going to take me alive.’

“Based upon that, the state is requesting a warrant for Mr. Sweet’s arrest for the $ 1 million bail,” Devlin said.

Sweet is charged locally with four counts of first-degree assault and single counts of attempt to elude, second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and possession with intent to manufacture or deliver heroin.

Most of the charges carry firearm and law enforcement special allegations that would lengthen Sweet’s prison sentence if he were to be convicted.

Sweet was wounded during the shootout and recovered from his injuries at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

________

Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in Crime

Woman accused of trafficking to minors arrested for assault

A 35-year-old woman who said she identifies as a… Continue reading

Clallam Bay man faces trial on child porn charges

Colby C. Underwood-Moore, 33, of Clallam Bay faces a… Continue reading

Port Hadlock man arrested after alleged assault, standoff

A 49-year-old Port Hadlock man is scheduled for a… Continue reading

One youth involved in City Pier assault sentenced to juvenile hall

Boy receives up to nine months; other set to appear Dec. 7

Hill trial delayed on third occasion

Four- to five-week session now in June

Woman sentenced for providing drugs to prison inmate who died

She pleads guilty to felony controlled substances homicide

Rental truck thief sentenced to 41 months

A Port Angeles man who pleaded guilty to seven… Continue reading

Sequim man awaiting evaluation after child rape charges

A Sequim man facing five first-degree child rape charges… Continue reading

Clallam County agrees to sell property that was seized in 2022

Parcel confiscated after investigation of pot growing operation

Accused murderer pleads not guilty

Sequim woman to be back in court Dec. 12

Sequim woman declared competent to stand trial

Woman accused of attempted murder of her kids

Wanted woman jailed after string of burglaries

Stolen mail among potential charges