A 42-year-old man from Port Angeles evaded capture Friday morning after a high-speed chase on Highway 101 was called off due to dangerous driving conditions, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office reported. The driver, identified in agency records as Brian J. Arnold, left his car behind in the Port Angeles area after the pursuit ended.
The incident began around 4:30 a.m. on September 11, when deputies were dispatched to the Jamestown S’Klallam Longhouse at 271020 Highway 101 in Sequim. Officers received a tip regarding potential drug activity near the fuel pumps. Upon arrival, they located Arnold seated in his vehicle. Based on their observations, deputies suspected he was intoxicated and informed him he was under detention.
Arnold subsequently accelerated away, prompting a westbound pursuit on Highway 101. During the chase, the suspect drove recklessly at speeds approaching 120 miles per hour, according to the Sheriff’s Office. A supervising officer ended the chase at the intersection of Highway 101 and Blue Mountain Road, citing the vehicle’s excessive speed and its movement into oncoming traffic lanes. The vehicle continued traveling westbound after the pursuit was terminated.
Approximately two minutes after the chase concluded, dispatchers reported a two-vehicle collision involving a hit-and-run at the intersection of Highway 101 and Deer Park Loop. Deputies determined that the vehicle that fled the scene matched the description of Arnold’s car. The individual involved in the collision was not injured.
Minutes later, officers located Arnold’s abandoned vehicle at the corner of Deer Park Road and Wall Street. Following the acquisition of a search warrant, deputies examined the interior and discovered suspected methamphetamine, digital scales, and various drug paraphernalia.
The Sheriff’s Office stated it had probable cause to arrest the Port Angeles man on suspicion of attempting to elude law enforcement, hit-and-run involving an attended vehicle, possession of methamphetamine, and obstructing law enforcement.