Eluder faced with multiple charges
Friday, November 6, 2009
WATERVILLE — An East Wenatchee man faces several charges after police say he caused three accidents and led law enforcement officials on a high-speed chase late Monday evening.
The Douglas County Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday charged Larry F. Simms, 44, with felony vehicular assault, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle with a special allegation of endangerment, hit and run in an injury accident, driving while license is suspended or revoked in the third-degree and two counts of hit and run involving property damage.
An East Wenatchee Police Department incident report said Simms was traveling south on Highway 28 in a white Ford van and struck a car at the Grant Road intersection, then backed up and fled east on Grant Road. Court documents state one person involved in the Grant Road accident was taken by ambulance to Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee.
Douglas County Deputy Michael Baker observed Simms leaving the scene, pursued the van and saw it hit another vehihcle on Eastmont Avenue, according to court documents. The deputy followed Simms down Eastmont Avenue, sometimes reaching speeds of up to 60 mph.
Baker wrote that he observed a third car pull over to the side of the road, which other officers said Simm’s vehicle also hit. Baker’s statement said Simms tried to make a left turn onto 19th Street Northwest, but drove over a sidewalk and ended up in a ditch. Baker and Deputy Dean Schlaman ordered Simms out of his vehicle, but Simms continued to try and start his smoking van. According to the report, Schlaman fired his Taser and Simms was arrested.
The report said several law enforcement officials smelled alcohol coming from Simms and three prescriptions made out to Simms were also recovered in the van. They were penicillin, Adderall and lorazepam.
One of the reasons Simms has been charged with vehicular assault is he was under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug while operating a vehicle.
Simms is being held on a $100,000 cash bond and his arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 16.
Michele Mihalovich: 665-1188
mihalovich@wenatcheeworld.com
Comments
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makaimomma (Makai Momma) says...
Laws should allow for a person like this to have his license taken away indefinitely until he can prove that he is no longer a danger to others when he is behind the wheel. In this case, by requiring drug and alcohol treatment and a device that doesn't allow his vehicle to start if it detects alcohol when he blows into it. We are all so lucky that he didn't kill someone. I hope jail time will be given to help him think about his bad choices.
November 6, 2009 at 12:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Cactus (Jerry Patterson) says...
I second your feelings, makaimomma. Unfortunately, the reality is that the DUI penalties that exist in this state are nothing more than a mere slap-on-the-wrist. A person has to commit 5 DUI related offenses before the law even BEGINS to put some real teeth in to it. This guy will be back out on the road, with a license to play russian roulette with our lives in no time. Thats the unfortunate reality of the situation.
November 6, 2009 at 2:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Dragon (Mary Greenfield) says...
According to the article above, this person was charged with "driving while license is suspended or revoked in the third-degree". Unless they can take away his key with his license and somehow keep him from acquiring another key or another vehicle, driving is always still a possibility.
November 6, 2009 at 3:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )