QUILCENE — A Vancouver man faces multiple charges after he reportedly led Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies on a vehicle chase with speeds reaching 80 to 100 miles per hour from Discovery Bay to Quilcene before it ended in a resident’s yard.
Bryce Taylor Hanna, 25, was charged Monday with attempting to elude a police vehicle with endangerment, two counts of third-degree assault of a police officer and second-degree malicious mischief with substantial risk of interruption or impairment of service, according to documents filed by Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney James Kennedy. All are Class C felonies punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
Hanna was being held at the Jefferson County jail after his bail was set at $100,000 during his initial appearance Monday in Jefferson County Superior Court. He is scheduled to be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. Friday.
At about 1:50 a.m. Saturday, deputy Alan Jorgenson observed a vehicle pass two semi-trucks at once near the intersection of U.S. Highway 101 and state Highway 20, and he estimated the speed was near 100 mph in a 45 mph zone, according to his probable cause report.
The vehicle slowed to 63 mph as it passed Jorgenson, who made a U-turn and began pursuit of Hanna’s vehicle. As the deputy activated his lights and siren, Hanna continued to increase speed to 100 mph in a 55 mph zone, Jorgenson wrote in his report.
Hanna passed another semi-truck in a no-passing zone, forcing the semi-truck onto the shoulder near East Uncas Road South, at which point Jorgenson notified other deputies of the pursuit, according to the report.
Deputy Chandler Knight soon joined the pursuit, and there were no other vehicles on the road south of state Highway 104, as the chase varied between 80 to 100 mph, the report said.
Ahead of the pursuit, Capt. Ben Stamper laid a spike strip across the highway near Lords Lake Loop Road, which Hanna’s vehicle ran over, according to the report.
Hanna continued near 100 mph through a 30 mph zone and began to slow down once the vehicles reached the school zone in Quilcene as sparks began to come from the front right tire, Jorgenson said.
Hanna’s vehicle lost most of the tire and slowed to below 40 mph, at which time Jorgenson executed a PIT maneuver and spun Hanna’s vehicle, although Hanna continued to drive and Jorgenson made another U-turn, according to the report.
Jorgenson completed three separate PIT maneuvers before Hanna turned into a driveway along the highway, and three law enforcement vehicles followed.
Hanna proceeded to drive through the lawn on the left side of the residence, stopped at the end, and then he backed into Knight’s vehicle, causing significant damage and putting it out of service, according to the report.
Hanna also backed into Jorgenson’s vehicle before he drove around the house through the yard and got stuck near the garage, the report said.
Knight and Jorgenson approached the car and ordered Hanna to shut off the vehicle, which Hanna ignored until Jorgenson broke the driver’s side window with his baton.
Hanna reportedly told deputies he tried to flee because he knew his license was suspended and he had multiple warrants for his arrest.
Hanna’s passenger, Scott Maas, 49, of Lynnwood was taken into custody for possession of a controlled substance after he reportedly admitted having drug paraphernalia that had traces of meth on it, the report said.
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Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5, or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.
