PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles man wanted on a state Department of Corrections warrant was in custody Saturday afternoon after leading city police on a brief car chase and search along Eighth and C streets involving several law enforcement agencies.
Preston Joseph Smith, 42, was arrested at about 3:30 p.m., according to police.
He remained in the Clallam County jail late Saturday afternoon, booked for investigation of felony eluding and a state Department of Corrections warrant for violating terms of community custody, with no bond amount set.
Sgt. Glen Roggenbuck said police searched for Smith in an area west of C and D streets bounded by West Fifth and West Seventh streets.
The search followed a brief car chase when Officer Mike Johnson, knowing Smith was wanted on a corrections warrant, tried to pull him over, Police Chief Terry Gallagher said.
Smith ended the chase by ditching his car and fleeing on foot, police said.
Johnson ultimately took Smith into custody, Roggenbuck said, after a search involving about 15 officers from the city Police Department, State Patrol, Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, Olympic National Park, U.S. Border Patrol and Lower Elwha tribal police.
Police had considered Smith possibly armed and dangerous during the search. No firearms were found on him when he was taken into custody, Roggenbuck said.
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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.
