Forks man to be arraigned Friday in altercation with police officer; Gentry in satisfactory condition in Seattle

Forks Police Officer Michael Gentry

Forks Police Officer Michael Gentry

PORT ANGELES — Walter B. Martin-Perez will be arraigned Friday on charges of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest after a Jan. 18 incident that left a Forks police officer hospitalized with a broken leg and wrist.

Martin-Perez, of Forks, will be arraigned at 9 a.m. in Clallam County Superior Court.

Forks police said the 23-year-old backed a 1996 Ford Explorer into a patrol car driven by Officer Michael Gentry after Gentry pulled him over at the Evergreen 76 gas station for erratic driving.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Martin-Perez tried to flee on foot, but Gentry tackled him in the parking lot, police said.

Gentry, a fourth-year Forks police officer, suffered a shattered tibia below his left kneecap and a broken left wrist as the pair hit the ground, Forks Police Administrator Rick Bart has said.

Gentry has had three surgeries at Harborview Medical Center over the past two weeks.

He was listed in satisfactory condition at the Seattle hospital Thursday.

Forks Mayor Bryon Monohon touched on Gentry’s condition in his State of the City remarks at the Forks Chamber of Commerce meeting Wednesday.

“[He] is in a seven-hour surgery as I speak to place all of the metal hardware in his leg,” Monohon said.

Home soon

Gentry is expected to be discharged from the hospital and return home to Forks on Sunday or Monday, Monohon said.

The incident occurred shortly before midnight.

Martin-Perez soon realized Gentry was incapacitated by the fall and fled. Witnesses followed him to the Forks Mobile Home Park but lost sight of him there.

Martin-Perez was arrested in the Forks area two days later.

He is being held in the Clallam County jail on $10,000 bail.

Second-degree assault with a deadly weapon is a Class B felony punishable by a maximum 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Resisting arrest is a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum 90 days in jail or a $1,000 fine.

Gentry told investigators that Martin-Perez was traveling at low speeds on Calawah Way before he took a wide turn onto U.S. Highway 101 and overcorrected.

The sport utility vehicle crossed the centerline twice before taking a wide turn into the gas station, Gentry said.

In September, Forks Police Sgt. Michael Rowley arrested Martin-Perez for investigation of negligent driving and driving with open alcohol containers.

During that stop, Rowley reported that he “started yelling” at Martin-Perez because the suspect put his SUV into reverse, court papers said.

_________

Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.

Reporter Arwyn Rice contributed to this report.

More in News

Parker Brocious, 6, from Cedar Hills, Utah, studies tubs containing plankton, krill and other small ocean creatures used by the Port Townsend Marine Science Center for education purposes while on a road trip with his family on Tuesday at Fort Worden State Park. Parker’s father Tyler is at left. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Science education

Parker Brocious, 6, from Cedar Hills, Utah, studies tubs containing plankton, krill… Continue reading

Port Angeles approves lodging tax fund requests

Vacancy on committee brings legal questions

OMC hires family medicine physician

Dr. Calvin Kuo will join hospital in August

Colton Dufour, left, and his mom Cherie Tachell. (Cherie Tachell)
Boy seriously injured following hit-and-run

Condition is stable, but more testing underway for Sequim teenager

Applications open for Forks council seat

The Forks City Council is accepting applications to fill a… Continue reading

Bridge inspections set on Hood Canal

Bridge preservation engineers from the state Department of Transportation will… Continue reading

Port Townsend Farmers Market opens Saturday

Farm-fresh eggs, mexican pastries and smoked fish available

Adella Banning, 6, of Port Angeles pretends to take to the road on a all-terrain vehicle maintained by Clallam County Search and Rescue during Saturday’s Kiwanis Kids Fest at Vern Burton Community Center and a section of adjoining Fourth Street. The event featured numerous public safety displays as well as other youth activities hosted by area community service agencies. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Kids Fest

Adella Banning, 6, of Port Angeles pretends to take to the road… Continue reading

Clallam letter details Trump administration impacts

Clallam cites economy, tourism, healthcare

Rhonda Kromm is the new Port Angeles School District assistant superintendent. She replaces Michelle Olsen, the newly hired superintendent.
First bonds issued for develop plans for PAHS, Franklin Elementary

Construction at new Stevens Middle School to start in May

UPS Store closing Port Angeles location

UPS is closing its UPS Customer Center at 3216… Continue reading

Single-lane traffic near Kalaloch Campground

Erosion near Kalaloch Campground has caused a temporary lane closure… Continue reading