Joleen R. Tenorio, the 31-year-old Battle Ground woman arrested Aug. 22 after fleeing the scene of a collision in Centralia that afternoon, was charged with one count of attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle in Lewis County Superior County on Monday.
The class C felony carries a maximum punishment of five years imprisonment and $10,000 in fines. Tenorio faces an additional misdemeanor count of third-degree driving with a suspended or revoked license.
The day after the alleged incident, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) stated in a release that a black Ford Fusion had fled the scene of an accident before Centralia police could respond. Chehalis police located the vehicle in the Chehalis Walmart parking lot, “but it fled from an officer onto Interstate 5,” according to the release.
According to court documents filed by Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office, a LCSO deputy later observed the suspected vehicle while in Toledo and attempted to pull it over.
The vehicle allegedly fled through the town, “disregarding a three-way stop sign without slowing,” according to court documents, before continuing southbound on I-5.
While on the freeway, the suspect’s vehicle “weaved in and out of traffic lanes at high
speed, cutting off uninvolved motorists,” according to court documents.
The LCSO stated that the pursuit led south into Cowlitz County, and was aided by the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, the Castle Rock Police Department and the Washington State Patrol.
According to court documents, the suspect’s vehicle reportedly reached speeds upwards of 125 mph. “Stop sticks” were deployed by the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office to deflate the suspect’s tires, but they were unsuccessful.
After attempting — and failing — to cross over a large grassy median that bordered the interstate, the driver and three passengers exited the vehicle and fled on foot.
The four suspects were “quickly surrounded by law enforcement and taken into custody,” according to the LCSO. A vehicle search reportedly turned up drug paraphernalia.
The driver was identified as Tenorio.
According to court documents, one of the passengers, Danniel Evangelista, 30, of Silver Lake, Washington, allegedly told a sheriff’s deputy that she tried to tell Tenorio to stop the vehicle.
Tenorio has a warrant out of Clark County Superior Court for organized retail theft and another from Clackamas County for eluding a police officer, according to court documents. Her past felony convictions include possession of stolen property and attempting to elude.
During Tenorio’s preliminary court appearance Monday, Deputy Prosecutor Brandi Archer asked for $20,000 in bail, citing the suspect’s warrant history both in Washington and out of state.
“The state is concerned she will not come back to court,” Archer said, adding that, given the nature of the offense, Tenorio poses a community safety risk, as well as a risk to interfere with the administration of justice.
Defense attorney Rachael Tiller called the state’s bail recommendation “excellent,” but asked for it to be unsecured, given the suspect’s inability to post.
Tiller briefly referenced the allegations against the three passengers, saying two have been released after posting a $1,000 bond. Another bail was set at $10,000, according to Tiller.
Judge Joely A. Yeager cited Tenorio’s prior conviction for attempting to elude and her active warrant as reasons why the state’s request of $20,000 was “more than appropriate.”
After setting the $20,000 bail, the judge scheduled an arraignment for Sept. 4. Joshua House has been assigned to represent Tenorio.
