PORT ANGELES — Clallam County sheriff’s deputies arrested a 22-year-old man following a chase that started after he allegedly rammed his father’s vehicle several times with a pickup truck, authorities said Monday.
Port Angeles resident Cody Cornelson was being held Monday without bond in the Clallam County jail for investigation of attempting to elude police, malicious mischief domestic violence and hit-and-run.
The incidents occurred after he was involved in a domestic dispute at his family’s residence on the Lower Elwha Klallam reservation Sunday night, according to a news release.
The dispute started out as an argument between Cornelson and his girlfriend and escalated into a confrontation between Cornelson and members of his family, Undersheriff Ron Cameron said, adding there were no injuries.
“Cody went out of control and was upset with everything going on,” Cameron said.
“There does not appear to be any one thing that triggered it.”
Here’s the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office account:
At about 9 p.m. Sunday, Cornelson rammed his father’s unoccupied PT Cruiser several times with a Ford Ranger pickup truck, severely damaging the Cruiser’s passenger side.
Cornelson, a non-tribal member, fled in the truck before deputies and Lower Elwha tribal police arrived.
Deputies and officers were unable to find Cornelson.
At about 12:26 a.m. Monday, Cornelson returned to the scene and was spotted by Lower Elwha tribal police, who tried to stop the truck Cornelson was driving.
Cornelson failed to stop, and police lost sight of the vehicle.
Deputies and Elwha officers, assisted by Port Angeles police officers, began searching the area.
Deputy Mike Leiter eventually located Cornelson and the truck near the Lairds Corner park-and-ride off U.S. Highway 101 west of Port Angeles.
Leiter began pursuing Cornelson, who turned onto state Highway 112 toward Joyce.
Cornelson then turned onto Dan Kelly Road.
Leiter was joined by Deputy Mel Kempf and Lower Elwha tribal officers.
Cornelson, who was traveling at a high rate of speed, turned onto Colville Road and was going too fast around a curve.
The truck started to skid and slid into a tree, causing damage to the passenger side.
Cornelson fled on foot and hid in a nearby ditch.
Port Angeles Police Department K-9 officer Kevin Miller arrived, and Cornelson surrendered.
Cornelson suffered minor injuries from the collision with the tree and was transported to jail.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
