PORT ANGELES — A January trial has been set for a Port Angeles man charged with assaulting a gas station owner before ramming a police patrol vehicle and spitting bloody mucus at another officer last month.
Steven Richard Parker, 31, pleaded not guilty Friday to second-, third- and fourth-degree assault and driving under the influence of alcohol.
A one-week trial was scheduled for Jan. 13.
Port Angeles police alleged that Parker exited his vehicle and threw a punch at the owner of the Chevron gas station, grazing the man’s chin, on the afternoon of Oct. 17.
Parker then rammed Deputy Chief of Police Jason Viada’s unmarked patrol vehicle and spit bloody mucus at another officer while receiving a blood draw at Olympic Medical Center, police alleged in the affidavit for probable cause.
Officer JJ Smith said she found an open bottle of Jameson whiskey in the center console of Parker’s vehicle when she arrested him.
Officers said Parker had an odor of intoxicants on his breath and struggled to maintain balance.
Clallam County Superior Court Judge Brent Basden set Parker’s bail at $20,000 at his initial court appearance Oct. 18.
Superior Court Judge Brian Coughenour on Friday granted defense attorney Alex Stalker’s request for Parker to be released on his personal recognizance.
Parker was ordered to return to court for a status hearing Dec. 12.
________
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsula dailynews.com.