PORT ANGELES — An 18-year-old Port Angeles man who allegedly took law enforcement officers on a high-speed hit-and-run chase through Port Angeles at speeds of at least 70 mph Friday will make his first appearance in Clallam County Superior Court on Tuesday.
Marshall Paul Dietrich was in the Clallam County jail Saturday without bond for investigation of 10 charges, including driving under the influence, after allegedly smashing into four vehicles, including two police cars, during the chase.
Dietrich stole an SUV from the Black Diamond area at about 8 p.m. Friday before ending up in a ditch east of Port Angeles near Bagley Creek Road, Port Angeles Deputy Police Chief Jason Viada said Saturday.
Viada said Dietrich reached speeds of at least 70 mph.
“He covered some ground,” Viada said.
Dietrich then fled on foot before being apprehended by State Patrol troopers and Clallam County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Viada said.
During the chase by two Port Angeles Police Department patrol cars, a sheriff’s office SUV and a State Patrol cruiser, he allegedly smashed into three cars, including two patrol cars and a parked car; sideswiped an H-2 Hummer being driven on U.S. Highway 101; and sped the wrong way on Front Street, Viada said.
Viada said Officer T.J. Mueller, whose Dodge Charger Dietrich allegedly rammed intentionally on the driver’s side during the chase, was taken by ambulance to Olympic Medical Center, treated and discharged.
Viada said Mueller did not have broken bones or cuts, scrapes or bruises but is off duty until further notice.
“It was quite a collision that he endured,” Viada said. “Dietrich deliberately aimed at the driver’s side of Mueller’s [vehicle].”
After being rammed, Mueller continued pursuing Dietrich.
“Mueller got hit hard but continued on,” Viada said.
“He didn’t falter until the suspect was in custody,” Viada said.
There were no serious injuries during the incident, he said.
Dietrich was booked Friday night into jail for investigation of driving under the influence-drugs, minor in possession-consumption of alcohol, hit-and-run unattended, theft of a motor vehicle, first-degree malicious mischief, resisting arrest, second-degree assault of a police officer and eluding a police vehicle.
He also was booked Friday on a felony bench warrant for not making a court appearance on a charge of residential burglary for a Nov. 17 incident and for investigation of organized retail second-degree theft.
The organized retail second-degree theft charge was part of a felony investigation by the sheriff’s office, Undersheriff Ron Cameron said Saturday.
Cameron did not have details of the investigation.
Organized retail theft applies to the theft or possession of property — with an accomplice — that has a value of at least $750 and is taken from a store, according to the Revised Code of Washington.
Viada said Dietrich raced north on Black Diamond Road, north on Pine Street, east on Eighth Street, north on Chambers Street, north on Jones Street, drove east on westbound Front Street, east on First Street, then out of town on U.S. Highway 101 to east of Deer Park.
Viada gave the following account of the chase:
At about 8:14 p.m. Friday, the sheriff’s office responded to a report of a car being stolen in the Black Diamond area.
Port Angeles Police Officer Dan Morse saw the car driving northbound into Port Angeles, activated his overhead lights and signaled the driver to stop.
Morse was joined in the pursuit by Mueller and Sheriff’s Sgt. Shaun Minks.
Dietrich rammed into Morse’s Dodge Charger patrol car near First and Chambers streets before driving east on Front and east onto First Street, still pursued by the three officers.
Morse was not injured, Viada said.
Dietrich then smashed into a parked vehicle before he rammed Mueller’s car on U.S. Highway 101.
A State Patrol trooper was in the area east of Deer Park near Bagley Creek Road where Dietrich eventually stopped.
The trooper had spike strips, but before they could be laid out, Dietrich lost control of the vehicle, rolling it into a ditch.
He fled on foot but was caught by State Patrol and sheriff’s office officers.
Viada said he was optimistic that Mueller’s and Morse’s patrol cars could be repaired.
He did not have damage estimates Saturday on the other two vehicles that were damaged.
Dietrich will appear in Superior Court on Tuesday on the afternoon calendar.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
