PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles police officer was distracted when he hit the back of a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the driver of which had a suspended license, in a non-injury mishap, Brian King, Clallam County Sheriff’s Office chief criminal deputy, said late Wednesday afternoon.
The collision occurred at about 7:55 a.m. Wednesday in the middle of the Valley Creek Bridge on Eighth Street, King said.
Officer Zachery Moore, who was driving the 2007 Ford Crown Victoria police vehicle, remained on duty Wednesday during King’s investigation, Deputy Port Angeles Police Chief Jason Viada said Wednesday.
Viada said he immediately requested the assistance of the Sheriff’s Office to conduct an outside investigation of the incident once Moore notified him of the collision.
King said he referred his report to the Port Angeles Police Department for its review.
“They will look at it as an internal personnel matter,” King said.
Viada will make a recommendation to Smith on whether discipline is warranted for Moore as a result of the incident, he said.
Port Angeles Police Chief Brian Smith could not be reached for comment late Thursday afternoon.
King said the vehicles sustained a combined damage total of less than $1,000.
The driver of the Cherokee was Dean Sewell, 20, of Port Angeles.
King said Sewell’s driver’s license had been suspended for failing to pay civil traffic infractions.
The Sheriff’s Office has referred a recommendation of a charge of third-degree driving on a suspended license to the county Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for the possible filing of the charge, King said.
King said Moore was behind Sewell when the two accelerated eastbound from the stoplight at Eighth and Pine streets onto the Valley Creek Bridge.
“The officer was looking down at his [Mobile Data Terminal] and rear-ended the vehicle,” King said.
“He was attempting to run a registration and glanced down at his computer.”
Law enforcement officers are exempted from state law restricting use of personal electronic devices in vehicles, King said.
“We have to use those devices to do our jobs,” he said.
The vehicles were travelling about 10 mph when the collision occurred, King said.
“If this did not involve a police officer, it would not have been a reportable collision.
“Because it did involve a police officer on duty, we chose to make a police report.”
The westbound lane on Eighth Street near the Cherry Street intersection was blocked from about 7:55 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. Wednesday.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
