Fleeing suspects force lockdown at Naselle-Grays River Valley school

October 2, 2018 1:30 am
PHOTO COURTESY WASHINGTON STATE PATROL Two men fleeing from State Patrol troopers on Highway 101 near Naselle were captured without incident soon after crashing their vehicle. Nearby Nasselle-Grays River Valley school was on lockdown for a couple of hours during the Sept. 27 incident.
PHOTO COURTESY WASHINGTON STATE PATROL Two men fleeing from State Patrol troopers on Highway 101 near Naselle were captured without incident soon after crashing their vehicle. Nearby Nasselle-Grays River Valley school was on lockdown for a couple of hours during the Sept. 27 incident.

Naselle-Grays River Valley School District was placed on lockdown last Thursday as Washington State Patrol troopers and other agencies searched for two subjects involved in pursuit on State Route 401.

According to Trooper Chelsea A. Hodgson, the pursuit began on State Route 401 at 9:51 a.m. A 2000 Chevrolet pickup truck traveling northbound was said to be traveling 77 mph in a posted 55 mph zone, passing a trooper parked on the shoulder. The trooper attempted to stop the pickup, which failed to yield to the trooper’s lights and sirens and accelerated to 105 mph in a posted 45 mph as it neared the city of Naselle.

The pickup continued northbound, ran a stop sign and attempted to turn left onto westbound State Route 4, lost control and went into a ditch in front of the school, the Patrol report said.

The driver and passenger fled on foot in opposite directions. The driver, a 29-year-old Shelton man, ran west from the scene to a grassy field. Troopers apprehended the driver, who was taken into custody without incident. The driver is accused of felony eluding and driving while license suspended/revoked first-degree, reported Hodgson.

The passenger, a 31-year-old Burien man, ran toward the school, passed the front door and continued onto State Route 4. Troopers and a Department of Fish and Wildlife officer later observed the man off Torppa Road south of the school and placed him into custody without incident. According to Hodgson, the Burien man had five warrants, including one felony.

The school was notified of the incident at 9:54 a.m. and shortly after was placed on lockdown. The lockdown was lifted at 11:30 a.m. As the incident was occurring, a Fish and Wildlife captain went into the school and spoke with the students who had been relocated to the gymnasium, answering questions regarding the incident.

The Clatsop County, Ore. Sheriff’s Office assisted on scene with a narcotics K9-unit, which positively alerted on the pickup truck. The Pacific County Sheriff’s Office will continue the investigation into potential additional drug charges.