Sequim Gazette staff

A 24-year-old Sequim woman is charged with assaulting a police officer after allegedly stealing beer from Safeway at 5:48 p.m. Nov. 7.

In an arrest report, Sequim Police Officer Michael Hill said Rachelle Cabe had just stolen a 12-pack of Bud Light Beer and was being pursued by a Safeway employee when she encountered Shawn Washburn, an officer who had just gone off duty.

The Sequim police station is across the street from Safeway.

The employee asked the officer, who still was wearing his badge and firearm, to “call in” the incident.

As the officer approached Cabe, she jumped in her car and rapidly accelerated toward him, Hill said in

the report.

“Officer Washburn yelled, ‘Stop, police,’ as he displayed his badge on his belt and drew his firearm,” Hill said. “The vehicle lunged forward toward him and he had to step back to avoid being hit.”

Cabe drove away but was identified after officers ran her car’s license plate and matched her to a booking photo of her, officers said.

Cabe also had received a trespass warning from Safeway that was current and prohibited her from entering, Hill said.

Police found Cabe hiding in the women’s restroom at McDonald’s, diagonally across Washington Street from Safeway, 3½ hours later.

Cabe allegedly told police she was being harassed at Safeway and already was pulling out of her parking space when the officer tried to stop her. The beer, which sells for $13.99, was turned over to police by Cabe’s friends.

She was arrested on suspicion of theft, criminal trespass, resisting arrest and assault.

Cabe will be arraigned on one charge of third-degree assault of a law enforcement officer, a Class C felony, Nov. 18 in Clallam County Superior Court. She remains in custody at the Clallam County jail in lieu of $5,000 bond.