PORT ANGELES — A domestic violence incident early Monday afternoon led to the arrest of a man after a brief pursuit and street blockade and a short lockdown at Port Angeles High School.
Port Angeles deputy chief of police Jason Viada said James David Hansen, 35, of Port Angeles was in custody for investigation of unlawful possession of a firearm.
“We still are investigating the scene and processing the evidence,” he said. “We should have a case update later.”
Port Angeles police officers responded to a domestic violence call about 12:35 p.m. Monday at a mobile home park in the 1200 block of U.S. Highway 101. It was reported the suspect fired a gun inside the mobile home during the disturbance and drove off, according to a Port Angeles Police Department news release.
Responding officers spotted the vehicle traveling toward Port Angeles and began following it, the release stated. The officers briefly lost sight of the vehicle in a neighborhood south of Lauridsen Boulevard.
Officers were told the suspect had a lengthy criminal history and could not possess firearms, according to the news release. Neighbors told the officers the suspect had driven into the Canyon Edge neighborhood, which is a series of dead-end streets several blocks south of the high school.
Carmen Geyer, Port Angeles School District spokeswoman, said the high school went into lockdown at 12:50 p.m. after it was contacted by the police department. The lockdown lasted until 1:35 p.m., she said.
Officers used spike strips and vehicles to block the street and arrested the suspect when he tried fleeing on foot. The suspect was booked into jail and the investigation is ongoing, according to the news release.
“Everyone did a great job,” Geyer said. “The administration stayed in contact with the teachers and the police stayed in contact with the administration through the whole process.”
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached by email at [email protected]
