Mason County alleged car thief in custody

A Port Orchard man has been arrested for stealing a car in Mason County and leading deputies on a high-speed chase down state Route 106.

Joseph Hubbard, 22, of Port Orchard, was arrested on felony charges of eluding police and possession of a stolen vehicle March 26.

A Mason County Transit employee called MACECOM on March 11 to report a man trying to break into parked cars at Northeast Log Yard Road in Belfair, according to a Mason County Sheriff incident report.

While the caller was on the phone, he said the suspect had entered a gray Nissan pickup, started the vehicle and was driving away.

Deputy N. Montejo took the call and spotted the pickup, followed closely by a Honda Civic.

Montejo activated his emergency lights.

“The Honda Civic and Nissan pickup immediately took a right turn onto NE Clifton LN and began to speed up. I followed the Nissan toward the 4-way stop at the intersection of Old Belfair Highway and state Route 300. At this point, I was able to determine that both vehicles were involved in this incident as the Nissan continued to follow the Honda on state Route 300,” Montejo stated.

The cars began speeding up and driving recklessly and Montejo stopped the pursuit, he said.

The Nissan pickup was later found parked off the side of the road by the women’s correction center on Sandhill Road, the report states.

Deputy Ogden then takes over the narrative on the same day.

“I was southbound on WA-106 when I noticed an awkwardly, diagonally parked silver Honda Civic parked within the parking lot of Sunset Beach Grocery & Deli,” Ogden wrote in a probable cause document.

“As I approached the business, I noted a white male sprinting out of the business and jumping into the Silver Honda Civic. It should be noted that the business has been the victim of numerous smash-and-grab type crimes,” the document states.

Ogden said the car sped off with no lights, although it was dark at the time. Ogden clocked the car’s speed at 79 in a 40 zone.

He saw the Honda “leave its lane of travel, crossing the center line approximately a half vehicle width. It maintained this position at which time it briefly returned to its own lane before fully crossing the center line into opposing lane. I noted the driver of the vehicle appeared to be unable to maintain safe control of their vehicle within their lane of travel and I suspected the driver to be under the influence of intoxicants and posing an imminent deadly risk to the public,” Ogden wrote.

The deputy received permission from his supervisor to continue the pursuit along state Route 106, according to the document.

Ogden said the Honda went as fast as 80.

“I noted the vehicle’s passenger side door crack open and it appeared the passenger was attempting to flag down law enforcement with a light. I became more concerned about what situation I had at hand and wondered if I had encountered a hostage situation, which also prompted me to continue pursuit,” he wrote.

Ogden became concerned as the Honda sped toward a fire closure of state Route 106 near Union. Radio personnel notified the fire department that a speeding vehicle with no lights was “careening their way,” according to the document.

Police set up spikes to stop the car on East McReavy Road and East Pinedirosa Road.

Two police cars with emergency lights flashing lined the side of the road by the spike strip but the Honda didn’t stop and turned on East Brockdale Cut Off Road toward U.S. Highway 101, avoiding the spike strip.

Then radio dispatchers told police a caller claiming to be a passenger inside the fleeing vehicle said a baby was in the car.

“Due to the fear of a child being present within the vehicle, as stated by the 911 caller, I immediately terminated [the pursuit],” Ogden wrote.

Deputies learned the Honda had a stolen license plate.

They were able to trace the phone call allegedly made by the passenger, because although there was no name listed with the number, dispatch had received a previous call about an overdose from the same number.

A suspect later identified as Hubbard lived at the reported overdose address.

Hubbard “is a suspect in numerous vehicle thefts,” including several in Mason County, the probable cause document states.

Hubbard is in custody and his initial arraignment is scheduled April 8 before Judge Daniel Goodell in Mason County Superior Court.