PORT ANGELES — New charges have been filed against a Port Angeles man who eluded law enforcement multiple times this summer.
Mason H. Durham, 20, was charged in two cases Friday with attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and bail jumping.
He was arrested Tuesday after leading Port Angeles police on a brief foot chase near the Fine Arts Center, where he abandoned a stolen vehicle, police said.
Durham had posted a live video of himself taunting law enforcement on Facebook last Monday night.
Durham, who also uses the last name Rood, was previously charged with second-degree taking a motor vehicle without permission in connection with an armed confrontation over a stolen SUV east of Port Angeles on June 2. He pleaded not guilty to an added charge of bail jumping Friday.
Durham had evaded deputies on foot after the June 2 incident. He was arrested at a residence near Port Angeles a few days later.
Durham posted a $5,000 bail bond June 11.
A three-day trial in Durham’s taking a motor vehicle without permission-bail jumping case was scheduled to begin Oct. 1 in Clallam County Superior Court. A status conference is set for Sept. 7.
Durham’s second felony case stems from a July 8 incident east of Port Angeles.
A State Patrol trooper had attempted to pull Durham over after spotting him and a 17-year-old passenger without seat belts on Monroe Road, leading to a high speed chase and multi-agency foot pursuit, court papers said.
Durham abandoned the vehicle he was driving and ran into a densely wooded area behind a home off Larch Avenue, according to the affidavit for probable cause.
A loaded Colt .380 was found under the driver’s seat, court papers said.
Durham was charged Friday with second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle.
He will be arraigned in that case at 1:30 p.m. this coming Friday.
Durham also is being investigated for state Department of Corrections community custody violations.
He pleaded guilty last December to two counts of possession of methamphetamine and single counts of first-degree trafficking in stolen property and possession of a stolen vehicle for crimes that occurred between August and October of 2017, court papers said.
Durham was sentenced in that case to a residential DOSA (Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative) with two years community custody.
________
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
