PORT LUDLOW — A man was transported to Harborview Medical Center to be treated for hypothermia after attempting to flee from Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies by swimming across Hood Canal.
The condition of Matthew Queirolo, 36, of Lacey was not available Monday from the Seattle hospital.
The Sheriff’s Office has recommended that the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s office charge him with felony elude, resisting arrest and driving with a suspended license.
A deputy pulled over Queirolo for a routine traffic stop on South Point Road at about 6:50 p.m. Sunday, according to Arthur Frank, chief criminal investigator for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
When the driver was asked for his license he informed the deputy that he didn’t have one since it had been suspended, according to a press release from Detective Joe Nole.
The deputy ran a record check on Queirolo and found that he had a felony warrant for a residential burglary in Mason County along with a suspended license.
The deputy instructed Queirolo to exit the vehicle. Queirolo ignored the request and the two that followed, according to a Sheriff’s Office press release.
The deputy then opened Queirolo’s driver side door but stepped back when Queirolo put the car into gear and revved the engine.
Queirolo took off down South Point Road and was followed by the deputy in his patrol car.
When Queirolo reached the dead end of South Point Road he ran out of his vehicle to the beach and began swimming toward the Kitsap Peninsula on the other side of Hood Canal.
When the deputy arrived Queirolo was about 25 feet out in the canal.
The deputy attempted to talk Queirolo out of the water, but Queirolo continued to swim further into the canal, the press release said.
The deputy called in marine assistance to rescue Queirolo.
Queirolo was pulled from the water about 30 minutes later with the assistance of law enforcement boats and a Coast Guard Helicopter.
Medics on the scene reported that Queirolo had a body temperature of 81 degrees and was transported to Harborview for hypothermia treatment, according to Frank.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.