A Vancouver couple who were wanted for allegedly hitting two police officers with a car while fleeing arrest last month were taken into custody early Saturday by sheriff’s deputies, bail recovery agents and a K9 team from Battle Ground, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Alex Schoening described the arrest:
Ashley B. Belleisle, 25, and Cody J. Stewart, 30, and another man ran when they were contacted at 1:10 a.m. at a residence in the 600 block of Northwest 139th Street in Salmon Creek but were apprehended by deputies and Battle Ground Police K9 Officer Chris Crouch and his canine partner, Haulf.
Stewart was bitten during the arrest and received medical treatment before he was booked into Clark County Jail on suspicion of assault in the first degree, assault in the 3rd degree, escape in the 3rd degree, and possession of a controlled substance, as well as on outstanding warrants.
Belleisle was booked into Clark County Jail on suspicion of assault in the first degree, assault in the 3rd degree, escape in the 3rd degree, driving while suspended and outstanding warrants.
The two were wanted in connection with an Oct. 29 incident when police contacted them at Stewart’s mother’s home on the 7500 block of Delaware Lane to follow up on a traffic stop of the two in July, during which Stewart allegedly gave a false identity, police said.
When officers located the two, Belleisle was in the driver’s seat of the same car officers pulled over in July — a teal Toyota Yaris 4D, according to police. Stewart was getting in on the passenger side.
Officers began to take the two into custody when Stewart’s mother, 53-year-old Barbara K. Stewart, came out of the house and verbally challenged them, police said. While the officers — Sgt. Wayne Reynolds and Cpl. Stuart Hemstock — were distracted, Belleisle turned the car on and stepped on the gas, quickly backing up.
The car backed into Reynolds, lifting him off the ground and onto the trunk, police said. Hemstock, who was opening the driver’s door, suffered minor injuries to his hand and arm, according to police. Reynolds was not injured.
Barbara Stewart was arrested and taken to the Clark County Jail on charges of obstructing and second-degree rendering criminal assistance, according to police.
The man who was with the couple Saturday — Daniel L. Cronin, 28, of Vancouver — was arrested on outstanding warrants and controlled substance violations, Schoening said.
