Suspect in U-Haul truck leads deputies on pursuit in Port Angeles
The suspect had obtained an arrest warrant and swallowed a bag of drugs when he was eventually tracked down by police.
CLALLAM COUNTY, Wash. — Clallam . County Sheriff’s Department Officers (CCSD) were pursuing a wanted suspect Friday, who evaded police in a U-Haul van before attempting to escape on foot when he was arrested after falling. and struggling from a height of 10 feet.
According to the CCSD, they received an anonymous tip just before 10 p.m. Friday that Andrew P. Benson, 28, was at a home in Port Angeles. Benson has a pending arrest warrant issued by the Department of Corrections and probable cause issued by the CCSD regarding motor vehicle theft and evasion.
After visiting the address where Benson is said to have seen, no sign of him was found. However, a policeman arrived shortly after and found a U-Haul van carrying Benson and a woman in the driver and passenger seats. The deputy ordered them both to get out of the car and the woman did just that.
Instead, Benson accelerated and is said to have shown signs of impaired driving, including crossing the middle line, going the wrong way in a one-way street, and nearly colliding and forcing other drivers off the road. .
After a chase, Benson eventually led the officers to a lot on North Baker Street in Port Angeles. Benson tried to jog and jump over the embankment. An officer who grabbed Benson’s shirt also fell about 10 feet with him.
Benson was arrested after a struggle, and later booked into the Clallam County Jail on charges of dodging a police car, using DUI drugs, resisting arrest, obstructing law enforcement, taking dangerous driving and driving with a level 3 license suspended.
