PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles man has been charged with eluding and drug sales after a high-speed chase in east Port Angeles.
Christopher Michael White, 30, was in possession of $9,000 worth of heroin and methamphetamine when he led officers on an 80-mph pursuit on U.S. Highway 101 and east Front Street on Tuesday afternoon, authorities alleged.
White was charged Friday with attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, hit-and-run of an attended vehicle and two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
He is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 1 in Clallam County Superior Court.
White remained in the Clallam County jail Saturday on $60,000 bail.
Port Angeles police said White reached speeds of about 80 mph as he traveled west in a pickup from the Safeway store at 2709 E. U.S. Highway 101 to the Liberty Apartments.
White collided with three vehicles, one of which was occupied, before he exited his pickup and was arrested by officers at gunpoint, according to the affidavit for probable cause.
The Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team (OPNET) received information in late September that White was selling illegal drugs and was armed while doing do, according to the task force.
“He was heard saying that he would rather shoot it out with police than go back to prison,” said Sgt. Tom Kuch, OPNET supervisor.
“About that same time, OPNET learned that White had an active Department of Corrections warrant for his arrest.”
OPNET was watching an apartment near North Liberty Street when they saw White leaving in a gold-colored truck, according to a press release.
White met with others at a parking lot just east of Port Angeles and left before detectives could arrest him, OPNET said.
“Speeds reached up to 80 mph and White sideswiped three different vehicles in the process,” Kuch said.
“The pursuit ended back at the apartments on Liberty Street where White jumped from his vehicle and tried to escape, however Port Angeles police arrested him before he could get away without further incident.
“Nobody was injured during the pursuit,” Kuch added.
OPNET obtained a search warrant and found 53.2 grams of suspected heroin and 42.6 grams of suspected methamphetamine in the vehicle, Kuch said.
“This is much more than what would be considered personal use and has a street value of about $9,000,” Kuch said.
Detectives also found a digital scale with suspected drug residue, Kuch said.
State Department of Corrections officers searched White’s apartment and found ammunition and body armor. He is prohibited from possessing ammunition because he is a convicted felon, Kuch said.
The investigation involves officers from OPNET, Port Angeles Police Department and the State Patrol.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsula dailynews.com.
