A 31-year-old Arlington man entered pleadings of not guilty to two felony charges of first-degree malicious mischief and reckless driving in Jefferson County Superior Court after he was seen driving around Chimacum in a Dodge Ram pickup that only had three tires.

Kenneth James Brooks was booked into Jefferson County Jail following his arrest Aug. 23. Bail was initially set at $5,000.

The Washington State Patrol was dispatched to Highway 19 south of the Kitsap Credit Union in Port Hadlock-Irondale after a resident told dispatchers a Dodge Ram pickup had gone past three times without a tire on the front right wheel.

The day before, however, a sheriff’s deputy had stopped the same truck in Chimacum because it was missing a front tire.

During that stop, Brooks was found to be towing a stolen trailer. He also had drugs in his possession that were believed to be methamphetemine.

Brooks was arrested and the truck was left parked at the Cenex store.

After the call the next day, a deputy found Brooks parked at the Chimacum Chevron, sitting behind the steering wheel. The deputy also noted that the roadway had been damaged, and the damage continued all the way up to where the Dodge Ram was parked.

When asked about driving up and down the highway, Brooks allegedly told the deputy he had gone to a couple of auto repair shops looking for a tire.

He was also told by the deputy it wasn’t safe to be driving without a tire and noted the damage that had been done to the road.

Another deputy followed the road damage back to the Cenex store.

More damage was found on Highway 19 up to HJ Carroll Park, then to Four Corners Road.

A public works employee told law enforcement the roadway couldn’t be immediately fixed and would need to be resurfaced. Conservatively, the damage was estimated at $200,000 to repair.

During his appearance Friday in Jefferson County Superior Court, Brooks’ attorney asked for Brooks to be released on his own personal recognizance.

Lillian Powers said Brooks had community connections in Arlington, and that he has occasional employment doing odd jobs.

“He does work when the work is there,” she said.

Deputy Prosecutor Melissa Pleimann said Brooks had been repeatedly arrested for theft, as well as trafficking in stolen property. He also had three prior arrest warrants in his history.

She asked that bail remain at $5,000, and noted the damage that had resulted from his current charges.

She said he had just been released from jail and had gone back to the truck and started driving it again.

Anyone going down the roadway “can see where Mr. Brooks left his mark,” Pleimann added.

Powers again asked for Brooks’ release, and said the gouges in the roadway were not extensive.

They are described as not deep, she added, but the aesthetics “do not look good.”

The three prior incidents involving Brooks dated back to 2017, 2016, and 2013, Powers said.

“Mr. Brooks has not been in trouble for a long time, and that’s the essence of his criminal history,” she said.

Superior Court Judge Keith Harper said bail was appropriate, and he could not see any connections to this community.

“The driving is extremely dangerous as it’s been alleged; driving around extensively without a tire on one of the wheels,” Harper said.

“It’s a danger to the community. And the previous contact the day before didn’t seem to change his mind about continuing to do that,” the judge said.

Bail was reduced to $2,500, cash or bond.

Brooks’ trial was set to start Oct. 17.

Conviction of first-degree malicious mischief can result in a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. Reckless driving can result in a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.