SEQUIM –– A Port Angeles man wanted for a string of burglaries remained in Clallam County jail Tuesday after a 74-second run from police left city streets littered with what police said were stolen items.
It ended with a pickup truck crashed into Kettel’s 76 Station, narrowly missing fuel pumps.
Daniel R. Davis, 43, was booked into Clallam County jail Monday night after he allegedly led a Clallam County deputy and Sequim police officers on a quick chase through downtown that reached speeds as high as 40 mph on streets with speed limits as low as 25 mph.
The chase ended at 6:25 p.m. when Davis planted his white Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck next to a diesel pump at the gas station at 194 W. Washington St., said Sgt. Sean Madison with the Sequim Police Department.
The bed of Davis’ pickup was filled with items police believe he stole from a storage unit earlier in the evening, Madison said.
The chase took 74 seconds, said Clallam County Sheriff’s Chief Criminal Deputy Ron Cameron.
Many of the items, including stacks of personal papers, were strewn behind the truck as they fell out during the chase, Madison said.
Superior Court Judge Eric Rohrer ordered Davis held in jail under a $15,000 bail after a first appearance in Superior Court on Tuesday afternoon.
Charges are expected to be filed in court Thursday afternoon.
Davis is being held for investigation of eluding police and driving with a suspended license, as well as theft in the third degree and possession of stolen property — both accusations linked to the storage locker.
He also is being held for investigation of second-degree burglary and first-degree theft in Port Angeles.
An alert had been issued to law enforcement to watch for Davis, since he was suspected of crimes in Port Angeles, Cameron said Tuesday.
Deputy Brian Knutson attempted to pull Davis over on West Washington Street, Cameron said, and Davis took off, turning south onto Sequim Avenue and then traveling westbound on the south West Washington Street alley.
Davis then turned onto Bell Street, where he ran several stop signs, Cameron said, and circled back onto West Washington Street.
After two police cars joined the chase, Davis apparently missed a left turn onto Second Street and careened out of control into Kettel’s gas pumps, Madison said.
His truck clipped the diesel pump on pump 7 before crashing into the support post in the middle of the island, Madison added.
Davis was inspected by medics, Cameron said, and treated for a minor head injury before being released into police custody.
A dog riding in the truck was turned over to a friend of Davis’, Cameron said.
Madison said the truck was destroyed.
Heidi Hendrick, an employee of Kettel’s, said the store’s insurance is expected to cover the damage after she spoke Monday night with owner Gary Kettel, who is on vacation.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Joe Smillie can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or at jsmillie@peninsuladailynews.com.
