PORT ANGELES — Law enforcement agencies are looking for a Port Angeles man they say lost one of his shoes when he fled into the woods after a State Patrol trooper tried to pull him over east of the city.
A trooper attempted to pull over Mason H. Durham, 20, on Sunday morning after spotting him and a 17-year-old passenger without seat belts on Monroe Road, officials said.
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook on Monday that Durham, who also uses the last name Rood, is wanted for eluding the trooper and for unlawful possession of a firearm.
State Trooper Chelsea Hodgson, who did not identify Durham by name, said he fled eastbound on U.S. Highway 101 before turning onto North Lilac Avenue and then onto North Larch Avenue.
After allegedly driving through multiple stop signs and reaching speeds of about 65 mph on North Larch Avenue, Durham abandoned the vehicle and ran into dense woods, losing one of his shoes, according to Hodgson.
The trooper detained and questioned the passenger before releasing him.
The juvenile passenger is expected to face at least an obstruction charge and received a ticket for not wearing a seat belt, Hodgson said.
Law enforcement obtained a search warrant and allegedly found a loaded Colt .380 under the driver’s side seat of the vehicle.
Durham was arrested previously in connection to an armed confrontation over a stolen SUV on June 2, and was bailed out of the Clallam County jail.
He initially evaded deputies but was arrested at a residence near Port Angeles a few days later.
In addition to this case, Durham also has two felony warrants for contempt of court after failing to appear in court last Friday.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsula dailynews.com.
