Two suspects are in custody after multiple incidents last week in Sequim, including several vehicle thefts.
Joanie Squires, 33, of Tacoma was arrested around 5 p.m. Thursday, May 5, after crashing a vehicle into landscaping in front of Hurricane Ridge Veterinary Hospital, on the corner of North Seventh Avenue and West Hendrickson Road.
Judge Brent Basden placed Squires on a 72-hour hold with bail set at $10,000 on Friday, May 6.
Deputy police chief Mike Hill said in a phone interview they anticipate recommending up to 12 charges to the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s office, including felony charges of attempting to elude a police vehicle and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Squires will tentatively be charged on May 10 in Clallam County Superior Court with Harry Gasnick appointed as her defense attorney.
Deputy prosecuting attorney Sarah Woolman said in court on May 6 that Squires allegedly said she used methamphetamine and drank alcohol one hour-90 minutes before driving a stolen truck.
David Brown, 32, was arrested on May 8 in Jefferson County. He was set to appear in court on May 10. The silver GMC truck was found abandoned in Mason County on May 6, police report.
Hill on Monday said Brown was taken to Jefferson Healthcare Medical Center as a precaution after his arrest, and a Sequim officer apprehended him when he attempted to flee again.
The pair’s connection to Sequim is unknown as of late last week, he added.
Photo courtesy of Holly Shimer Sequim Police Officer Andrew Wagner attempts to stop David Brown, 32, of Tacoma on May 5 outside Westside Pizza before he sped off. Brown allegedly stole the truck and eluded police throughout the city.
Reported thefts
Sequim police officers report the couple came to Sequim, allegedly in a stolen orange truck from Fife; it was seen at about 9:30 a.m. on May 5 near South Rhodefer Road — when the pair allegedly stole power tools from a parked vehicle, law enforcement officials said.
Police report the pair then allegedly stole a green pickup from a Sunnyside Avenue apartment building and at about 10:30 a.m. the male was seen on South Ninth Avenue via surveillance cameras unsuccessfully attempting to steal another vehicle. A few minutes later, the stolen green truck was abandoned on the 700 block of West Washington Street and Brownallegedly stole a second vehicle and abandoned it a few blocks away.
Another vehicle, a silver GMC pickup, was reported stolen at 4:45 p.m. on the 200 block of West Bell Street.
Soon thereafter, Squires was allegedly seen driving the orange truck on the 1100 block of West Washington Street, and officers attempted to stop her.
She allegedly fled, officers reported, as did the male, who was spotted in the silver truck nearby.
Hill said updated state law prevented them from pursuing the vehicles because of the nonviolent severity of their crimes, so officers stopped pursuing them.
Police reported the couple allegedly fled east on Washington Street into oncoming traffic.
Brown allegedly struck another vehicle with the driver uninjured on the 700 block of West Washington Street, police report. He turned toward Westside Pizza and was stuck in its landscaping with police demanding he exit, but he fled again, police report.
Squires drove the orange truck up North Seventh Avenue where she struck landscaping and a large rock in front of the veterinarian hospital where she was arrested.
