BLYN — A Clallam County sheriff’s deputy driving a patrol car and the car of the man he was seeking collided head-on a narrow Forest Service road this week, leaving the deputy with minor injuries.
Deputy Mark Millet was treated for a concussion at Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles after the wreck Tuesday and was later discharged, said Brian King, chief criminal deputy for the Sheriff’s Office.
Kody Kautzman, 25, and Marvin Lamprecht, 24, both of Sequim, were taken into custody to the Clallam County jail and booked on warrants after attempting to flee on foot after the crash, King said.
Both were booked on warrants for leaving court-ordered drug treatment, he said.
King said the case has been submitted to the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review of potential charges that would include attempting to elude a pursing police vehicle.
The deputy is at home recovering for a few days before returning to work, King said.
The collision is under investigation by the State Patrol.
Sheriff’s detectives were in the Sequim area Tuesday seeking Kautzman after a bench warrant was issued for his arrest, King said Wednesday.
King added that a suicide note was reportedly found in Kautzman’s belongings Monday.
“[The suicide note] elevated the need to go find him,” he said.
Detective Brian Knutson was driving an unmarked patrol car when he saw Kautzman get into the passenger seat of a white Honda Accord at 7 Cedars Casino in Blyn at about 1:47 p.m., King said.
Knutson requested a deputy in a marked patrol car assist him when he made contact with Kautzman, but the Honda left before backup could arrive, King said.
King gave this account:
Knutson followed the vehicle from the casino’s parking lot east on U.S. Highway 101, then south on Woods Road.
Near where Woods Road turns into Forest Service Road 2850, the driver of the Honda accelerated to speeds between 50 and 60 mph.
Knutson activated his lights and siren and pursued for several miles before losing sight of the Honda.
Millet arrived in a marked patrol car to assist and found indications that the Honda had turned onto Forest Service Road 2851, which King described as a primitive gravel road.
Millet drove up Road 2851, followed by Knutson, and was navigating a corner at about 15 mph when the Honda came around the corner toward him.
The two cars collided head-on, triggering air bags in both vehicles.
The collision occurred just over 11 miles from the point that the vehicle sped away from Knutson, King said.
After the collision, Kautzman and Lamprecht, who was driving, fled on foot. Millet captured Kautzman and Knutson caught Lamprecht about 100 yards from the Honda, King said.
Lamprecht and Kautzman were evaluated on the scene by medics before they were booked, King said.
Syringes were found in the vehicle, he said.
Other agencies that assisted include the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and an agent with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, King said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
