Man in custody after gun fired at park

PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles man was booked into Clallam County Jail on Thursday for attempted murder and felony harassment after an incident that morning at the 9/11 Memorial Waterfront Park on Francis Street.

According to the Port Angeles Police Department arrest report, Brian Lee Lester, 38, began hitting a man sleeping in the driver’s seat of a black Kia. A scuffle ensued, and when the man got back into the vehicle to drive away, Lester fired a gun identified as a 9x18mm Makarov in its direction.

A hole was found in the rear driver’s side passenger door and a bullet lodged in the interior of the vehicle. What appeared to be blood was found inside the vehicle and on the man, who was transported to Olympic Medical Center for evaluation after questioning.

Chief of Police Brian Smith said officers were “very, very quickly” at the scene at 7:40 a.m. and in position.

“Immediately they had everyone involved detained and the scene secured,” Smith said. “At no time were there any external threats to the community once the police arrived.”

The Port Angeles Police Department and Clallam County Sheriff’s Office reported six calls on Tuesday and Wednesday involving Lester, the man and a woman who had sleeping in the passenger seat of the Kia identified as having been in a relationship with Lester.

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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached at paula.hunt@peninsuladaily news.com

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