SEQUIM – A Sequim man has been arrested after investigators say he was involved in a series of reckless encounters driving his vehicle and eventually leading cops on a chase.
59-year-old John Barcellos was taken into custody Saturday night.
Clallam County Sheriff’s Deputies say it started Saturday afternoon with reports of a hit and run that occurred in the 3000 block of Woodcock Road. A mother of a teenage driver said her children had been the victim of a hit and run and returned home to report it to her. Deputies investigated and learned that Barcellos had tried to hit the victim’s vehicle three times with his vehicle. He managed to strike the vehicle, which had two juveniles inside, once and fled the scene.
Later that evening, deputies got another call regarding threats at a church north of Sequim. The reporting party advised that her four younger children were playing in a church parking lot when an older male drove up to them cursed at them and told them to leave or he was going to kill them. Deputies say the children tried to run to their nearby home. The man then drove towards them at a high rate of speed. Investigators say a unique vehicle description was given to dispatchers and that led deputies to Barcellos.
While speaking with Barcellos and telling him he was under arrest, he sped off toward a sheriff’s vehicle. He eventually drove north on Sequim-Dungeness Way with deputies in pursuit. As Barcellos approached the roundabout at Woodcock and Sequim-Dungeness at a high rate of speed, he hit the curb causing the vehicle to go into a field. Barcellos was taken into custody without further incident.
Barcellos was transported to the Clallam County Jail where he was booked for Assault in the 2nd Degree, Eluding a Police Vehicle, Obstructing a law enforcement officer and Resisting Arrest. Deputies also added the charges of Assault 2nd Degree