A vehicle pursuit this morning in Hoquiam was due to the man being wanted on an outstanding felony warrant for unlawful possession of a firearm, the felony arrest warrant was related to firearms stolen from the Aberdeen Museum after the fire and now he faces additional charges according to Hoquiam Police Chief Myers. 

On Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at 0832 hours, Officer Luce was in the Lincoln Elementary School zone on Perry Avenue when he observed a silver Oldsmobile minivan southbound at 30 in the 20 mph school zone.

Hoquiam officers are expected to be in active school zones during unassigned time as part of Department Focus Point #2.

When Officer Luce attempted to stop the vehicle on Lincoln Street at Dion Avenue, the driver instead refused to stop and continued southbound on Lincoln Street at 35 mph.

At Chenault Avenue, the driver suddenly made a right turn down the narrow street before transitioning onto Bluff Alley and then accelerated.

At the intersection of Bluff Alley and Center Street, the suspect apparently tried to cut the corner over a berm between the two streets, causing the van to launch airborne onto Center Street and then into the side of a house in the 700 block of Eklund Avenue.

The van came to rest against the side of the house, causing visible exterior damage.  The home was occupied at the time, but none of the residents suffered any injury.

The entire pursuit lasted 17-seconds.

The suspect, a 57-year old Aberdeen man fled the van on foot via a nearby alley where he was apprehended by Officer Luce after a brief struggle.  It was determined the man was wanted on an outstanding felony warrant for unlawful possession of a firearm; suspected methamphetamine was also located on his person.

The felony arrest warrant on the suspect was related to firearms stolen from the Aberdeen Museum after the fire.

The van was impounded and transported to the Hoquiam Police Department where detectives are currently applying for a search warrant based on additional evidence visible in the vehicle.  

After being medically cleared at the hospital, the suspect will be booked at the Grays Harbor County jail on numerous felony charges.