Hoquiam man has court appearance after leading officers on high-speed chase last month

A Hoquiam man who led police on a high-speed vehicle chase last month that ended with a three-car accident was arraigned on Monday.

Shane Tilley pleaded not guilty to the charges of residential burglary, attempting to elude a pursuing police officer and theft of a motor vehicle.

On Feb. 24, Hoquiam Police officers were dispatched to the report of a suspicious person, later identified as 32-year-old Tilley, at 1906 Panama Ave. who was going in and out of the residence with his face covered, removing items and placing them in a vehicle.

While officers were in route to the house, they were advised that Tilley had left the residence in a dark, four-door passenger car. Sgt. Jeff Salstrom of the Hoquiam Police Department was traveling northbound on 16th Street when he saw the vehicle and turned on his lights to initiate a traffic stop.

Tilley failed to stop and continued southbound on Riverside Avenue, swerving around traffic and nearly causing multiple collisions, court documents state. Tilley then turned southbound onto Sixth Street and headed eastbound on Simpson Avenue.

The vehicle accelerated and failed to stop for a red light at Seventh Street and Simpson Avenue before turning southbound on 22nd Street, where court documents state Tilley exceeded 50 miles per hour in a 25 mile per hour zone and was seen traveling faster than 80 miles per hour after turning onto Bay Avenue.

Officers discontinued the pursuit for safety reasons near Myrtle Street and Port Industrial Road, where Tilley passed Aberdeen Police Chief Robert Torgerson and Deputy Chief Timmons in the area of Maple Street. Within seconds, Torgerson and Timmons advised the vehicle had been involved in a collision in front of Home Depot, striking a minivan and causing it to roll over and injure the driver. At this time, Tilley admitted to officers that he fled and was taken into custody.

Detectives found evidence of a burglary at 1906 Panama Ave. and learned from the homeowner that the car Tilley was driving was stolen. Police also found multiple items that had been removed from the house in the vehicle.