PORT ANGELES — A former King County man wanted on four counts of alcohol-related vehicular homicide is in custody in the King County jail after he was arrested without incident at his new address in Port Angeles.
Nicholas Windsor Anderson, 38, of Des Moines was apprehended at 11:10 p.m. last Thursday at a home in Port Angeles after changing his address with the state Department of Licensing as of last Wednesday, Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith said.
A felony warrant was issued last week for Anderson after he was released from the hospital and could not be located, Cmdr. Steve Stocker, Auburn Police Department spokesman, said Monday.
Anderson, who had been hospitalized after the Oct. 25 single-car crash in Auburn, was identified by the cast on his arm at the time of his arrest, Smith said.
Anderson was driving his 1995 Nissan 300 at about 2 a.m. Oct. 25 on Auburn Way South with five acquaintances and his dog when the crash occurred.
Anderson was driving at a high rate of speed when he struck a utility box and then a tree, Stocker said.
Four people were killed, Anderson’s dog was euthanized and a fifth person was seriously injured, he said.
Anderson, who was ejected, was conscious at the scene when emergency personnel arrived, Stocker said.
“The only way to survive that accident would have been to be thrown from the car,” Stocker said.
“The car was too mangled up.”
The warrant for Anderson’s arrest on four counts of vehicular homicide had been issued when Port Angeles police received information Anderson was in Port Angeles.
Smith said authorities traced his cellphone to a house in the 200 block of West Second Street.
“He used his phone throughout the day in PA,” Smith said.
“That gave us probable cause for a search warrant.”
Anderson also had listed the residence in his renewal application to the state Department of Licensing.
Authorities from the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, Port Angeles Police Department and U.S. Border Patrol surrounded the house and were able to identify Anderson by looking through a window and seeing his cast, Smith said.
“We knocked on the door and were greeted by our suspect,” Smith said.“He was cooperative.”
Border Patrol agents were used to take advantage of the agency’s manpower and equipment resources, he added.
Anderson was held at the Clallam County jail until he was picked up by Auburn police officers at 1:21 a.m. Friday two hours after his arrest.
He is being held in the King County jail on $750,000 bail.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
