DISCOVERY BAY — Deputies have arrested a man they said evaded law enforcement several times near Port Townsend on Sunday after a brief foot pursuit behind Fat Smitty’s on Monday afternoon.
Hugo O. Madriz, 39, of Tacoma was arrested without incident, said Chief Criminal Deputy Art Frank.
Madriz was booked into the Jefferson County jail at 1:05 p.m. on a state Department of Corrections warrant and for investigation of a felony drug charge, first-degree theft, second-degree vehicle prowl, eluding a police vehicle and second-degree burglary.
The Sheriff’s Office on Monday morning would not provide reports from the incident because it is an active case.
Frank said Madriz asked someone to give him a ride and was dropped off at Fat Smitty’s in Discovery Bay just as deputies pulled up.
Frank did not yet know who reported Madriz.
“The person, not knowing who he is, gave him a ride,” Frank said. “The guy in the truck was just doing somebody a favor. He’s not believed to have any knowledge of who [Madriz] is.”
When deputies arrived Madriz led them on a short foot pursuit behind the restaurant.
“He probably made it 300 yards out in the back,” he said. “He tried to conceal himself in the bushes in the back.”
That didn’t work and when a deputy spotted him, Madriz was arrested without incident.
Prior to his arrest, Madriz was last seen at 10 p.m. Sunday on the 6000 block of state Highway 20, said Sgt. Brett Anglin.
Anglin said it is believed Madriz appeared to have taken a pair of shoes from a home while the residents were home. Deputies believe Madriz lost one of his shoes during his first escape from deputies early Sunday morning.
At about 1 a.m. Sunday, a deputy stopped Madriz for speeding. Anglin said Madriz then led the deputy on a 2-mile pursuit from state Highway 19 near Jefferson County International Airport to an area near Adelma Beach, where he fled into the woods.
The deputy noted speeds of 80 to 90 mph, said Anglin.
He said Madriz then abandoned his vehicle and fled into the woods. Deputies say they later found a “user-amount” of heroin in the vehicle.
Later in the day, citizens reported that a man had asked several people for help at the Four Corners store at S. Discovery Road and Highway 20.
When deputies arrived, Madriz ran into the woods, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies used a dog to search the area but were unable to find him.
After discontinuing the search, Madriz was sighted a third time in the Adelma Beach area after he had hid in a residence and attempted to flee on a bicycle he had stolen from the home, said Sgt. Mark Apeland.
Port Townsend Police Department officers spotted Madriz, who again evaded capture.
In 2016, Madriz pleaded guilty in Pierce County Superior Court to possession of a controlled substance and second-degree vehicle prowling. In that case, he was originally charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, though that charge was dismissed.
He previously pleaded guilty in 2014 to attempted possession of a controlled substance and first-degree escape. He pleaded guilty in 2013 to two counts of possession of a controlled substance.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
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