PORT TOWNSEND — Law enforcement arrested a Neah Bay man after he led police officers and sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed chase out of Port Townsend.
Alexander Warrick Wise, 23, was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon after speeding through the city, ramming a sheriff deputy’s vehicle and signs in Port Townsend and eventually being discovered to have a blood alcohol content of .216, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook.
When a deputy attempted to contact Wise at a walking trail, Wise fled. When the deputy caught up, Wise rammed his vehicle and ran over a fence and a propane tank to get away, officials said.
Deputies and Port Townsend police officers terminated the pursuit shortly after because of concerns about public safety, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Soon after, reports came into dispatchers about a person driving erratically and at high speeds within the city, allegedly hitting signs and another vehicle in a hit-and-run collision, officials said.
Deputies and officers restarted the pursuit when Wise was on Sheridan Street. Eventually, the deputies were able to use a pursuit intervention technique and ended the pursuit when Wise attempted to turn onto Airport Road.
Wise was arrested for investigation of felony eluding a police vehicle and driving under the influence.
The investigation was continuing as of Wednesday.