PORT ANGELES — More than a dozen officers and a canine unit were searching east Port Angeles including along the Olympic Discovery Trail this morning for a 31-year-old man who allegedly violated a no-contact order and fled on foot shortly after 6:39 a.m.
Police were still searching as of 9:30 a.m. this morning for Paul Andrew Martin, who is 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighs 175 pounds, has hazel eyes, was wearing a red shirt and blue jeans and is not believed to be armed, Port Angeles Police Chief Brian Smith said.
Martin has ties to Kitsap County and Sequim, Smith said.
The search area stretches from the Red Lion Hotel east to the abandoned Rayonier pulp mill site and includes the Front Street area.
“Every half hour that goes by, our search area could expand and change,” Smith said.
Martin has an outstanding an $50,000 bench warrant out of Clallam County District Court 1 and a $15,000 arrest warrant, Smith said.
The $50,000 warrant is for violating probation on a fourth-degree assault conviction, District Court Administrator Keith Wills said.
The $15,000 arrest warrant is for obstruction.
Police received a report involving Martin at 6:39 a.m. alleging that he had violated a no-contact order at the Red Lion, where Martin may have been a guest, Smith said.
”It’s clear the subject saw the officer and fled,” Smith said.
“We chased him on foot and lost him in vegetation.
“We’ve got a lot of resources tied up.
“We have a fairly large search area.”
________
Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.