Hoquiam Officer Escapes Injury When Squad Car Is Struck by Suspected Drunken Driver

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A Hoquiam Police officer escaped injury late Tuesday when his squad car was rammed by a suspected drunken driver.

Officers were called to an apartment in the 2400 block of Bay Avenue by a female indicating someone was inside her apartment and she needed an ambulance, said Police Chief Jeff Myers.

The first officers on the scene parked on opposite sides of the building. Tenants pointed to a black Nissan pickup parked on the grass on the east end of the building. As Sgt. Jeff Salstrom approached the vehicle, the driver started the engine and drove forward, crashing into the south side of the building.

“The impact jarred the two-story structure and awoke several tenants,” said Myers.

As the vehicle reversed, Salstrom was running back toward his police vehicle, assuming the driver was attempting to flee the scene.

“Instead of driving away however, the driver pulled forward toward the nearby patrol car,” said Myers. “Sgt. Salstrom had to jump out of the way as the driver slammed into the driver’s side rear of the parked HPD patrol car.”

Salstrom ordered the driver out of his vehicle, but he refused. A TASER was deployed, and the “highly intoxicated” 28-year-old Federal Way man was taken into custody, said Myers.

”In contacting the reporting party, officers determined the man had been at the apartment drinking, whereupon he assaulted the female occupant, whom he had just met, before attempting to leave in the pick-up,” said Myers. “It appeared the suspect had also side-swiped the victim’s parked car as he drove from the back to the side of the building before he was found by Sgt. Salstrom.” The victim was checked at the scene by Hoquiam paramedics.

Due to the collision with a Hoquiam department vehicle, an Aberdeen Police sergeant and Aberdeen officer responded to the scene to process the suspect for driving under the influence of alcohol. The suspect’s vehicle was impounded at the scene and the patrol car was driven back to the station, where it was taken out of service due to the damage.

The suspect will be booked into the Hoquiam City Jail for assault 4th degree, hit and run and driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor after he is processed by the Aberdeen officers.

“We appreciate the assistance of APD and the even closer working relationship between our departments under the leadership of APD Chief Shumate,” said Myers.