PORT ANGELES — A high-speed chase Sunday evening that began in Jefferson County and ended in Clallam County ended in the arrests of two people and the return of Benny, a stolen dog.
Travis C. Collins, 32, of Auburn and Angela C. Marcotte, 39, of Seattle were in custody this morning in the Clallam County jail without bond for investigation of felony possession of stolen property.
Trooper Russ Winger, State Patrol spokesman, said this morning Collins also was arrested on a misdemeanor warrant for car prowl and third-degree theft, and on a felony warrant for escaping community custody on a charge of possession of stolen property.
“He’s into stealing things,” Winger said.
Collins was driving a stolen 1997 Honda Civic when the State Patrol stopped him in Jefferson County near the Clallam County line for an equipment violation at 5:35 p.m. Sunday, Winger said.
Collins then sped away, starting a 20-mile chase that reached speeds of 100 mph and involved state troopers, Clallam County Sheriff’s deputies, Lower Elwha Klallam tribal police, and Port Angeles and Sequim police.
The couple successfully sped around spike strips at least three times before the Honda got stuck on a muddy, dead-end road at Bagley Creek and James Page roads east of Port Angeles, Winger said.
“He was onto it,” Winger said. “He knew what was going on.”
Winger said Collins and Marcotte were arrested without incident at 5:54 p.m. Sunday.
The Honda, registered as stolen by the Auburn Police Department, had a stolen license plate belonging to another vehicle, a 1991 Honda.
There also were stolen credit cards and fuel cards inside the vehicle along with a small dog named Benny, Winger said.
“They were definitely up to no good, that’s for sure,” he said.
Benny’s owners, from Bremerton, picked him up Sunday evening, Winger said.
Collins and Marcotte were booked into the Clallam County jail at about 8 p.m. Sunday.
A court hearing for the two had not been set as of this morning.
________
Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
