A Sequim man was arrested at gunpoint last week after he allegedly drove a motorcycle at speeds of more than 110 mph in a 40 mph zone, the State Patrol said.
Dean A. Holden, 52, was booked into the Clallam County jail Oct. 4 for investigation of felony eluding a pursuing police vehicle, possession of methamphetamine and third-degree driving with a suspended license.
He was released from jail Oct. 5 on his promise to return to court for the filing of formal charges set for Oct. 9.
State Patrol Trooper Eric Ellefson said he observed Holden driving eastbound U.S. Highway 101 between Port Angeles and Sequim at 74 mph. The speed limit on the highway is 55 mph.
With the trooper in pursuit, Holden turned right onto Sherburne Road, reaching 70 mph, before turning left onto Atterberry Road, Ellefson wrote in the affidavit for probable cause.
“In the 40 mph speed zone on Atterberry, the motorcycle accelerated to over 110 mph at its highest speed near milepost 1,” Ellefson wrote.
“This is in the area of Cassidy Road. The motorcycle had crossed the centerline multiple times.”
Holden allegedly made a pass near an oncoming vehicle and turned right onto Hooker Road without stopping at the stop sign near a bicyclist, Ellefson said.
“The motorcycle again accelerated rapidly as it traveled southbound on Hooker Road,” Ellefson said.
“When it had the opportunity, it crossed the centerline to cut corners. The motorcycle was well over 65 mph at times in the 35 (mph) zone on Hooker Road.”
Holden turned right onto Olson Road and traveled west until he reached a dead end, Ellefson said.
Ellefson held Holden at gunpoint for about five minutes until Clallam County Sheriff’s Deputy James Dixon arrived and placed Holden into handcuffs at about 5:54 p.m., court papers said.
“While I had been waiting for backup, the rider verbally expressed his disappointment in himself for not stopping and indicated it was because he did not have a driver’s license,” Ellefson said.
A corrections deputy at the Clallam County jail found two small bags of suspected methamphetamine in the right front pocket of the pants Holden was wearing, Ellefson said.
Clallam County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney April King requested a $2,000 bail for Holden at his initial court appearance Oct. 5.
Superior Court Judge Brian Coughenour released Holden on his personal recognizance and ordered him to not drive unless licensed and insured.
Rob Ollikainen is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
