A 33-year-old Vancouver man is facing multiple allegations, including hit-and-run of two police vehicles, following a pursuit overnight Sunday.
Mason B. Albert was arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run, as well as driving while under the influence and attempting to elude police.
Albert made an initial appearance in Clark County Superior Court on Monday morning. Court records show that Judge Gregory Gonzales set Albert’s bail at $20,000 and scheduled his arraignment for Aug. 24.
According to a probable cause affidavit, two Vancouver police officers were dispatched to the area of Northeast 57th Avenue and Northeast 34th Street about 12:15 a.m. for a report of a man “throwing glass and hitting cars.”
The officers were driving north on 57th Avenue in separate vehicles when one of them was struck by a southbound Chrysler Sebring. The sedan didn’t stop after striking the police vehicle, which was able to give chase despite the crash, according to the affidavit.
Minutes into the pursuit, the suspect vehicle crashed into the other police vehicle, according to the affidavit.
The chase continued westbound on Northeast Fourth Plain Boulevard until the officers were able to stop the suspect vehicle by striking its bumper. The driver, later identified as Albert, was removed from the Chrysler and taken into custody, court records say.
Police noted Albert had glassy and bloodshot eyes, and he smelled strongly of alcohol, according to the affidavit.
When an officer approached Albert, who was sitting in the back of a police vehicle, the detained man said, “What’s up?” in slurred, slow speech, according to the affidavit.
The probable cause affidavit says Albert was unable to respond to questioning.
