Two Vancouver women who allegedly struck a Clark County sheriff’s deputy with a car and fled at high speeds made their first appearances Wednesday in Clark County Superior Court.
Maryelena Clark, 27, and Angelia M. Mason, 34, were arrested Tuesday. Bail for Clark, who’s accused of first-degree assault and attempting to elude, was set at $100,000, while bail for Mason, who faces third-degree assault and attempting to elude, is $75,000, court records show. Both also had outstanding warrants.
Deputy Dylan Harris spotted a dark green, older Ford Taurus parked on the shoulder of the road early Monday near the intersection of Northeast 75th Street and Northeast 104th Avenue, according to an affidavit of probable cause. The passenger door and trunk were open, and two women were standing outside and appeared to be loading objects into the car, the affidavit said.
Suspicious that they might have been loading stolen property or attempting to steal the car, the deputy pulled over and parked next to them, according to the affidavit. After exiting the patrol car and approaching them, the women hurried into the Taurus, the affidavit said.
The passenger, Mason, yelled “Go, go, go!” according to the affidavit. The car then accelerated rapidly, and after Harris attempted to jump out of the way, the driver turned toward him, driving over his left foot, the affidavit said.
Harris opened the passenger door and attempted to pull Mason out of the car, but she pushed his hand away as they drove off, according to the affidavit. His hand was struck by the door frame, the affidavit said.
Harris then pursued the car, which reached speeds of nearly 100 mph and ran a red light, but discontinued the chase on Interstate 205 near the Glenn Jackson Bridge when his patrol car became disabled, the affidavit said.
Harris was then taken to a hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries and released, according to a sheriff’s office news release.
Following media reports, an anonymous tipster emailed the sheriff’s office and told them that Mason and Clark were likely responsible, according to the affidavit. The tipster said Mason’s brother, who was in the backseat of the Taurus during the incident, had told them about it, the affidavit said.
Harris identified Mason as the suspect after looking at a photo montage, according to the affidavit. When interviewing Mason’s brother, another deputy spotted the Taurus and several license plates in the backseat, one of which matched the license plate seen by Harris, the affidavit said. Mason and Clark were arrested shortly after.
In interviews with investigators, Clark and Mason admitted to being inside the Taurus during the incident, according to the affidavit. Clark admitted to driving and trying to get away. Mason said she didn’t know who the driver was or the man approaching them, and fell asleep during the chase, the affidavit said.
Clark and Mason are due back in court March 12.
