PORT TOWNSEND — A man was arrested near the Thomas Street apartments for allegedly violating a no-contact order and was found to be in possession of a stolen vehicle and multiple controlled substances, the Port Townsend Police Department said.
Joel Robert Chaudoin, 43, a transient known to both the police department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, was taken into custody just after noon on Sunday following a short foot pursuit, Port Townsend police Sgt. Jason Greenspane said.
He was being held Monday at the Jefferson County jail in lieu of $50,060 bail.
Chaudoin had a warrant for his arrest issued Friday after he failed to appear in Jefferson County Superior Court, according to court records. He’s facing 14 charges, including first-degree burglary, a Class A felony punishable by up to life in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.
Police officers learned Chaudoin was at the Thomas Street apartments with a woman who has a no-contact order against him, Greenspane said.
A Port Townsend-area man was arrested Sunday following a short pursuit outside of the Thomas Street apartments for allegedly violating a no-contact order. Police said he was found to be in possession of a stolen vehicle and several controlled substances, including methamphetamine and heroin. (Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office)
“When we got there, we were able to sit in the parking lot in a discreet way, and we observed him on a balcony with a female who has the no-contact order,” Greenspane said. “In addition to the warrants, he was clearly violating the no-contact order in front of us.
“Eventually he came out to the parking lot, and when the officers got out of their vehicle, he took off running and was quickly taken into custody.”
Port Townsend police coordinated with sheriff’s deputies because of Chaudoin’s “extensive history” and likelihood to run, Greenspane said.
Chaudoin was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and heroin as well as the stolen vehicle, which was from Kent, Greenspane said.
He had previously been charged with residential burglary, a Class B felony, and possession of burglary tools. He also was found to be unlawfully carrying a weapon capable of bodily harm, according to police records.
New charges include bail jumping and obstructing a law enforcement officer, records state.
Greenspane said the incident Sunday took up to two hours.
“There was a lot of police activity in a short amount of time,” he said.
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Jefferson County Managing Editor Brian McLean can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 6, or at bmclean@peninsuladaily news.com.