By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – A Clallam County deputy ended a vehicle pursuit this morning with a PIT maneuver that forced a speeding suspect off the road on Lauridsen Boulevard near C Street in Port Angeles.
PAPD reports they got the call around 10:15am that deputies were in pursuit of a felony fugitive and DUI suspect heading west toward town in a vehicle with no license plates and driving in a reckless manner. That driver, 34-year-old Leslie Paranteau of Sequim, was wanted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, Assault 2nd Degree with a deadly weapon, Attempting to Elude a Police Vehicle and Violation of Community Custody.
At one point, as Paranteau approached Hooker Road, he slowed down and a female got out of the vehicle while it was still moving. Deputies have not been able to locate her.
When Paranteau entered the city limits, police say he continued to show a disregard for the safety of others, prompting a deputy to administer the pursuit intervention technique (PIT) and stop him. Paranteau collided with a westbound pickup before coming to a stop. No injuries were reported.
Paranteau locked himself in the car, but deputies were able to break the driver’s side window and used a Taser to incapacitate him. Officers assisted deputies in taking Paranteau into custody.
Paranteau was booked into Clallam County Jail for the outstanding warrants and the new charges of Attempting to Elude a Police Vehicle, DUI and Reckless Endangerment.
