PORT ANGELES — A Kingston woman remained in Clallam County jail Sunday after allegedly hitting several vehicles with her car and leading police on a pursuit that ended with her car over an embankment and a K-9 search.
According to Port Angeles police, Brittany Christi Russell, 26, was arrested for investigation of eluding a police vehicle and possession of a controlled substance, both felonies.
The incident began Saturday at about 5 p.m. with hit and run reports in which several vehicles were struck in the area of U.S. Highway 101 and Brook Avenue in Port Angeles, police said in a statement.
The suspect vehicle, a red passenger car, was said to be heading west into the city, and two officers responded to locate it.
A citizen was following the car, which had turned south on Race Street, where Sgt. Josh Powless found the vehicle speeding south, police said.
Powless said he saw Russell’s car run a red light and attempted to stop the vehicle. Russell ran another red light and a stop sign, continuing south on Hurricane Ridge Road into Olympic National Park and driving in the oncoming lane, police said.
About 3 miles up Hurricane Ridge Road, Russell’s car failed to negotiate a turn and left the roadway, colliding with a tree.
Russell then fled on foot but was located after a search by Officer Whitney Fairbanks and her K-9 partner, Copper, police said.
Police said Russell refused to obey commands from officers and a taser was used on her before she was taken into custody.
Russell was transported to Olympic Medical Center for injuries from the wreck before being booked into jail.
Additional misdemeanor charges of obstructing a law enforcement officer and driving while license suspended also are being considered. Also, multiple counts of hit and run are being investigated by the State Patrol and Olympic National Park.
