PORT ANGELES — A Sequim man’s bail remained at $1 million Friday, although for the second day in a row, he did not know why he was in court.
David Scott Johnson, 40, was being held in the Clallam County jail in connection with a vehicle fire Tuesday morning at the Longhouse Market in Blyn, the theft of a full-size Ford F-350 pickup that Johnson allegedly drove madly out of the parking lot, and an ensuing crash near Discovery Bay in Jefferson County that injured a State Patrol officer.
Alfred L. Alderson, 55, has been discharged from Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, spokesperson Susan Gregg said late Friday. Johnson was treated there following the crash Tuesday and released Wednesday.
Johnson, showing Thursday in his first court appearance that he didn’t understand why he was being held by authorities and mumbling and moaning during his hearing — “I don’t know who I am,” he said — had his bail and other conditions of release reviewed again Friday in Superior Court.
Basden had scheduled the extra hearing Friday in anticipation of charges being filed at a hearing at 1 p.m. Monday.
Johnson answered no when asked by Judge Brent Basden if he was in a position to read a yellow card and review his rights.
“It seemed like maybe yesterday you were in a little bit of medical distress,” Basden said.
“Are you experiencing that same thing today?
“Are you able to listen and understand what’s going on?”
“I don’t even know why I’m here,” Johnson responded, slurring his speech.
Basden said authorities wanted Johnson held on the probability that he committed first-degree robbery, first-degree arson, second-degree assault, motor vehicle theft and two counts of second-degree malicious mischief.
“I think we’re probably a little bit where we were yesterday, so I’m going to leave the conditions in place that I imposed yesterday and the court will be willing to continue to review those, OK?”
Groaning, Johnson said, “Thank you, your honor.”
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at [email protected].
