Newport man charged with felony eluding

OLDTOWN — A man is facing a felony eluding charge after Bonner County Sheriff's deputies say he fled from them after they attempted to pull him over for speeding.

While the elusion was temporarily successful, William David Carey, 34, was later identified and charged two weeks later. Carey, who resides in Newport, Wash., was on his way home from work in Oldtown on March 29, 2021 when Bonner County Deputy Justin Penn pulled him over for allegedly going 65 mph in a 45 mph zone, according to court documents. Penn said he clocked Carey accelerating up to 88 mph before he started to follow, according to court documents.

Penn attempted to stop Carey repeatedly, but Carey ignored the emergency lights and turned right onto Highway 41. Penn initiated the chase, which was frustrated when Carey turned onto South State Avenue and crossed over intoWashington state. Carey almost crashed, but successfully made it to South Union Avenue where Penn stopped the pursuit. A Newport Police officer also initiated a pursuit, which also was called off due to traffic and safety concerns, the affidavit said.

A week later, Penn discovered an address in Newport that was potentially connected to Carey. When Penn went there, he was greeted by Carey’s relatives. According to the affidavit of probable cause, it was Carey’s family members who indicated Carey may have said something about ignoring a police stop on the way home from work.

While Carey was not at the Newport residence, Penn was able to contact him by phone. During their conversation, according to Penn, Carey admitted to eluding the deputy while on his motorcycle. According to police, the man told them that he refused to stop because he had a concealed weapon, and because it was on his “bucket list” to evade a police pursuit.

Carey is set to go to trial in November and could face a three-year suspension of his driver’s license if he is convicted on the felony eluding charge.