PORT ANGELES — Clallam County sheriff’s deputies arrested a 22-year-old man after a chase in which he allegedly rammed his father’s car several times, authorities said today.
Cody Cornelson, 22, was being held in Clallam County jail for investigation of attempting to elude police, malicious mischief domestic violence and hit-and-run.
The incidents occurred after he was involved in a domestic dispute at his family’s residence on the Lower Elwha Klallam reservation Sunday night.
Here’s the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office account:
At about 9 p.m., Cornelson rammed his father’s PT Cruiser several times, severely damaging the passenger side. Cornelson, a non-tribal member, fled in a pickup truck before deputies and Lower Elwha Tribal Police arrived. Deputies and officers were unable to find Cornelson.
At about 12:26 a.m. [today], Cornelson returned to the scene and was spotted by Lower Elwha Tribal Police, who tried to stop the truck Cornelson was driving.
Cornelson failed to stop and police lost sight of the truck. Deputies and Elwha officers, assisted by Port Angeles police officers, began searching the area.
Deputy Mike Leiter eventually located Cornelson and the truck near the Lairds Corner park-and-ride off U.S. Highway 101 west of Port Angeles. Leiter began pursuing Cornelson, who turned onto state Highway 112 toward Joyce. Cornelson then turned onto Dan Kelly Road. Leiter was joined by Deputy Mel Kempf and Elwha officers.
Cornelson, who was traveling at a high rate of speed, turned onto Colville Road and was going too fast around a curve. The truck started to skid and slid into a tree, causing damage to the passenger side.
Cornelson fled on foot and hid in a nearby ditch. Port Angeles Police Department K-9 officer Kevin Miller arrived, and Cornelson, upon seeing the police dog, surrendered rather than be the subject of a K-9 pursuit.
Cornelson suffered minor injuries from the accident and was transported to jail.
