PORT ANGELES — Two people were taken into police custody today (Thursday) during a search of the woods and residential neighborhood near Peninsula College.
Stephanie Boucher, 26, and Robert Lee Coberly, 35, were booked into the Clallam County jail for investigation of theft of a car and eluding police after being located by police dog working with a tracking team and alert Peninsula College security team members, said Port Angeles Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith.
Boucher was found by the search team at about 10 a.m. in the woods behind Peninsula College. Coberly was taken into custody at the intersection of Ennis and Seventh streets at about 10:50 a.m., after a two-hour chase and search, Smith said.
The pair was first spotted in a car that was reported stolen at about 8:30 a.m. on Front Street, he said.
Smith said officers attempted to stop the car, but the suspects sped away and drove south on Penn Street onto Sixth Street, then went off-road until they became caught behind the Highland Estates fence.
Boucher was driving the stolen car, officers reported.
Boucher and Coberly ran from the scene, entering the wooded area in White Creek drainage between Golf Course Drive and Peninsula College, he said.
He said the Sequim Police Department dog Chase and a team of trackers located Boucher in the wooded area behind Peninsula College, in an area cleared for power line access.
She was taken into custody and told police that Coberly was armed, Smith said.
Peninsula College security team members had been notified of the search and quickly spotted Coberly.
“Peninsula College security members saw a male walking from the open space area who matched the description of the suspect,” he said.
Smith said the team kept Coberly under surveillance and informed police of his movements until officers took him into custody at the Ennis-Seventh intersection.
Roosevelt Elementary School, 106 Monroe Road, and the Port Angeles School District transportation office, 627 Monroe Road, were placed on modified lockdown during the search as part of standard procedure, said Gerald Gabbard, assistant superintendent of Port Angeles School District.
The school and office are located across the Ennis Creek valley from the golf course, an area that can be accessed from the same power line access clearing used by Boucher and Coberly to cross the White Creek valley.
During a modified lockdown all outside doors are secured, all people coming and going from the school are monitored and only known individuals are allowed access, Gabbard said.
Recess was held indoors, he said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
