PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles police arrested a man they said was drunk when he assaulted the owner of a gas station and rammed his vehicle into a patrol vehicle Thursday afternoon.
Police arrived at the Chevron gas station at 601 E. First St., after a report that a Port Angeles man, who is not being identified because he has not yet been booked into jail, was attacking the owner of the gas station, Bob Lovell.
Lovell was uninjured.
When Deputy Chief Jason Viada arrived Lovell pointed out the man, who was getting into his car to escape, Viada said. Viada, a cab driver, another officer and Lovell used their vehicles to block the driver from getting away.
“I got behind him to pin him in as he put his car in reverse,” Viada said. “He just gassed it and ran into me.”
There were minor scuffs on Viada’s unmarked patrol vehicle.
Sgt. Joshua Powless then held the man at gun point and Viada arrested the man. Inside his car was a whiskey bottle, Viada said.
Following the incident the 31-year-old man was transported to Olympic Medical Center for a blood draw, but was expected to later be booked into the Clallam County jail for investigation of second-degree assault and driving under the influence.
The man is expected to appear in Clallam County Superior Court today. The State Patrol is investigating the collision.
“I’m really, really glad the victim called when he did and that everybody pitched in and we were able to keep this guy off the road,” Viada said.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsula dailynews.com.
