PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles man who allegedly ran from police Dec. 27 and Friday has been charged in Clallam County District Court with obstructing law enforcement and other crimes.
Nicholas Tyler Roberts, who was caught after a brief foot pursuit in west Port Angeles on Friday, was charged Monday with two counts of obstructing a law enforcement officer and single counts of second-degree vehicle prowl, second-degree attempted vehicle prowl and third-degree theft.
Roberts, a convicted felon who had a state Department of Corrections escape warrant, pleaded not guilty to all five charges.
The obstruction charges were filed separately and the remaining charges were filed in a third case.
Clallam County District Court Judge David Neupert set a $3,000 bail for Roberts on Monday — $1,000 on each case.
“Are all these District Court matters?” Roberts asked the judge.
“That is correct,” Neupert said.
Roberts, 24, was arrested near the corner of Ninth and A streets at about 10 a.m. Friday, Port Angeles Chief of Police Brian Smith has said.
Officer Kelly Perry, who pulled Roberts over for a broken taillight at Eighth and B street, chased a fleeing Roberts through backyards between A and B streets and Eighth and Ninth streets, Port Angeles Police Sgt. Tom Kuch said.
Roberts hid on the side of the Tumwater Creek ravine and surrendered before police K-9 dog Cooper could join the pursuit, Kuch said.
On Dec. 27, Roberts fled from officers after a traffic stop in the area of Eighth and D streets, Smith said.
Roberts had run from police about six times since he was a teenager, Kuch said in a Friday interview.
Obstructing a law enforcement officer, second-degree vehicle prowl and third-degree theft are each punishable by a maximum of 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.
Second-degree attempted vehicle prowl is a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine, Neupert said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
