PORT ANGELES — A Forks man who allegedly fled from a Jan. 18 traffic stop and backed an SUV into a patrol car in an incident in which an officer was hurt faces a March 24 trial on charges of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest.
Walter B. Martin-Perez, 23, pleaded not guilty last week in a hearing before Clallam County Superior Court Judge Chris Melly.
Forks police alleged that Martin-Perez backed a Ford Explorer into a patrol car driven by Officer Michael Gentry during an 11:55 p.m. traffic stop at the Evergreen 76 gas station in Forks and fled on foot.
Broken leg, wrist
Gentry suffered a broken leg and wrist as he tackled the suspect.
Martin-Perez was arrested in the Forks area two days later.
Gentry had three surgeries at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He is recovering in Forks.
Martin-Perez is being held in the Clallam County jail on $10,000 bail.
Melly on Friday denied a defense motion to release Martin-Perez on personal recognizance, as Martin-Perez has a pending Immigration and Customs Enforcement case, court papers said.
