UPDATE | Vancouver man arrested after 100 mph police pursuit

Fleeing driver allegedly rammed two patrol cars near Quilcene during escape attempt

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A 25-year-old Vancouver, Washington man was jailed on six potential charges, including three felonies, after allegedly ramming police vehicles during a 100 mph car chase from Discovery Bay to south county Saturday.

Bryce Taylor Hanna was booked into Jefferson County Jail just after 3 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20 after being arrested for allegedly eluding a police vehicle and assaulting a police officer.

According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Hanna rammed two deputy patrol vehicles with his rental car as he tried to get away and also drove across the yard of a home in Quilcene during his failed attempt to escape.

Four charges were filed against Hanna Monday in Jefferson County Superior Court: attempting to elude a police vehicle, two counts of third-degree assault against a law enforcement officer, and second-degree malicious mischief.

The chase began near the south end of Discovery Bay just before 2 a.m. Feb. 20, when Hanna was allegedly speeding south on U.S. Highway 101.

A sheriff’s deputy was parked near the highway’s intersection with Highway 20, and the officer, Deputy Alan Jorgensen, said in court papers that he saw a vehicle heading south pass two semi-trailer trucks at once near Milepost 282.

The car was going somewhere near 100 mph in a 45 mph zone.

The vehicle slowed to 63 when it got closer to the intersection, according to Jorgensen’s report, and he made a U-turn to chase the driver.

With Jorgensen following, emergency lights and siren on, the car, later discovered to be a 2020 Nissan Altima that was borrowed from a rental lot in Tukwila, continued to increase its speed until it was going 100 mph.

The Nissan passed another semi-trailer truck, this time in a no-passing zone on a corner near East Uncas Road South that was so close the semi-truck, was forced onto the shoulder abruptly by the reckless passing, Jorgensen wrote in his report.

The deputy called for help from other units as the fleeing vehicle continued toward Quilcene.

Another deputy from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office joined in the pursuit, and there was no other traffic as they chased the driver down U.S. 101 south of Highway 104, from speeds between 80 and 100 mph.

Jorgensen said the fleeing driver slowed as they approached Lake Leland and went into a stretch of thick fog on the highway.

Once out of the fog, the Nissan driver sped up and continued south on 101.

Another officer further south put a spike strip across the highway near Lords Lake Loop Road.

The Nissan hit the spike strip and kept going, and a bit further south, was still going 100 mph when it came up to a 30 mph speed zone. 

When the fleeing driver hit the school zone in Quilcene, Jorgensen said the driver slowed down and sparks could be seen coming from the front right tire.

By the time the driver neared Milepost 295, most of the tire was gone and the Nissan slowed to below 40.

Jorgensen, in the probable cause report filed in court, said he tried three PIT (Pursuit Intervention Technique) maneuvers to stop the Nissan.

The first PIT pushed the Nissan around, but now facing north, the driver sped away.

The deputy made a U-turn and caught up to the vehicle and jammed the Nissan again.

It spun around and was facing south, and drove off.

Once more, Jorgensen turned around and gave chase.

On the third PIT hit, the Nissan spun around and went into a driveway next to the highway.

The Nissan driver kept going, pulling onto the lawn on the left side of the home before stopping at the edge of the lawn.

But when officers approached the vehicle, the driver put the Nissan into reverse and smashed into another deputy’s car, which Jorgensen said was severe enough to take it out of service.

Thinking the driver would try to get back to the highway, Jorgensen got into his patrol car but instead of heading back to 101, the driver rammed the side of Jorgensen’s vehicle, then turned toward the back of the house.

The Nissan went through the back yard and weaved its way to the side yard on the opposite side of the home.

Finding trees and a garage on the other side, the Nissan driver tried to needle his way through a narrow passage next to the garage but the car got high centered, according to Jorgensen’s report, and couldn’t get traction with one of its tires shredded.

Jorgensen ordered the driver to shut off the vehicle, but instead, he tried rocking the car back and forth to get free.

Jorgensen and another deputy ran up to the Nissan, and Jorgensen broke out the driver’s window with his baton.

After the window was shattered, Jorgensen said the driver and a passenger put up their hands.

Identified as Hanna, he allegedly told police he tried to get away because he knew his license was suspended and there were multiple warrants for his arrest.

The passenger in the car, Scott A. Mass, 49, of Lynwood, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.

According to a probable cause report, he told police he had a “meth pipe” in his pocket before he was frisked.

A glass pipe was found in his front left pocket and it appeared to have a white, crystalline substance in it.

A second smoking device for meth was found on the passenger floor board of the Nissan, but both Maas and Hanna said it wasn’t theirs.

Two warrants for Hanna’s arrest in Oregon were presented in court this week. Both were from Clatsop County; one was for felony possession of cocaine, issued Feb. 20; and the other was for felony hit-and-run driving, issued Feb. 19.