PORT TOWNSEND — A Neah Bay man was jailed after leading police on a New Year’s Day pursuit in the Port Townsend area.
It started about noon Wednesday when a Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy encountered 23-year-old Alexander Wise driving and parked on a walking trail within the city Of Port Townsend. As the deputy attempted to make contact, Wise fled. He rammed his car into the deputy’s vehicle and ran over a fence and a propane tank in an attempt to flee.
Law enforcement called off the pursuit for safety reasons. But police continued to get calls of Wise driving erratically and at high speeds in the city limits of Port Townsend, hitting signs and at least one other vehicle.
This time deputies encountered Wise and used a spike strip. Wise continued driving his disabled vehicle until a deputy used a pit maneuver to end the pursuit on Highway 19 at Airport Road.
Wise was taken into custody and initial investigation revealed his roadside blood alcohol content to be a .216, nearly three times the legal limit to drive.
The investigation is ongoing.