CARLSBORG — A Port Angeles man is in the Clallam County jail after reportedly crashing his car into a power pole following an attempted escape from a traffic stop.
Christopher M. White, 24, was arrested Wednesday afternoon by Clallam County Sheriff’s deputies for investigation of attempting to elude a police vehicle and two outstanding felony warrants.
The arrest followed a brief pursuit that ended on Lewis Road north of U.S. Highway 101 in the Carlsborg area.
White allegedly fled the car, which had struck a power pole, leaving two unidentified passengers behind.
The man was treated and released on the scene, while the woman was taken to Olympic Medical Center, the sheriff’s office said.
Both had minor injuries, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s deputies arrested White near Heuhslein Road not long after the car was found.
He remained in jail Friday with no bond set.
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office gave this account of the events leading up to White’s arrest:
Sheriff’s deputies were called to the Walmart in east Port Angeles at about 4 p.m. Wednesday after store security called 9-1-1 to report a car in the parking lot that was same one connected with a shoplifter the day before.
The car left before deputies arrived, but was seen later by a sheriff’s deputy Matt Murphy heading west on Highway 101 at Morse Creek.
Murphy followed the car and pulled it over on Lewis Road. He was approaching the car on foot when it sped away.
Murphy gave chase briefly but stopped after determining it was too dangerous to continue at high speed along the rural road.
Murphy would later find the damaged car, while Sgt. Randy Pieper with the sheriff’s office found and arrested White without incident.
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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.
