Port Angeles Woman Faces Felony Assault Charge After Welfare Check Ends in Struggle With Police

A 41-year-old Port Angeles woman is facing a felony assault charge after a Wednesday evening welfare check near Seventh and Laurel streets ended with officers carrying her to a patrol car, where police say she kicked an officer in the stomach.

Deanna L. Long made her first appearance Thursday in Clallam County Superior Court, where Judge Elizabeth Stanley found probable cause on charges of third-degree assault of a law enforcement officer, obstructing a law enforcement officer, and resisting arrest.

Long, who was booked into the Clallam County Corrections Facility after her arrest, remained in custody in lieu of $10,000 bail following Thursday's hearing. Arraignment is set for 1 p.m. today.

The Charges

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tracey Lassus filed the criminal information Thursday afternoon, charging Long with one count of assault in the third degree of a law enforcement officer, a Class C felony.

The felony charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, plus restitution and assessments.

Long is also charged with obstructing a law enforcement officer, a gross misdemeanor carrying up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine, and resisting arrest, a misdemeanor carrying up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The Allegations

According to the probable cause narrative filed by Port Angeles Police Officer Whitney Fairbanks, police were dispatched shortly after 8:30 p.m. Wednesday to a welfare check in the area of Seventh and Laurel streets after multiple callers reported a woman in a pink shirt and black shorts. 

The first caller said the woman was "acting crazy" and was approaching and stopping passing vehicles, and a second caller reported she had thrown a can of soda at a man on a scooter.

Arriving in the area, Fairbanks reported seeing the woman chase a car through the intersection, then run up to a man walking south on Laurel Street and appear to touch his backpack or harass him.

Fairbanks recognized the woman as Long from numerous prior law enforcement contacts, the report states, and was aware Long had an officer safety caution for assaults on law enforcement officers.

Long briefly stopped to speak with Fairbanks, and dispatch advised that she had a confirmed felony arrest warrant, according to the report.

When Fairbanks moved to place Long in handcuffs, she briefly grabbed onto a nearby chain-link fence, the report states. Fairbanks and Corporal Cooper each took hold of one of Long's arms and moved her onto her stomach, where the report says she tensed up, kept her arms from being placed behind her back, and at one point grabbed the second handcuff before it could be secured.

The report states that Long appeared to be under the influence and would not stop moving, and that Fairbanks used body weight to keep her from standing up while a patrol car was brought to the scene.

Because Long would not walk, Officer Bennett, Emery, and Fairbanks carried her to the car, the report states, with Bennett holding her torso and Emery and Fairbanks holding her legs. As the officers placed her in the back seat, Long kicked out and struck Emery in the stomach, according to the report.

In a supplemental narrative, Fairbanks wrote that Emery had no marks where she was kicked but reported transitory pain.

At the Jail

After officers drove Long to the jail, the report states, she began hitting her head on the divider and kicking the door panels while the patrol car sat in the sally port. 

When Officer Bennett opened the door to get her to stop, Long stuck her feet out of the car to keep him from closing it, according to the report.

Clallam County Sheriff's Office corrections staff took over the booking process and carried Long into a holding cell after she did not cooperate with their commands, Fairbanks wrote.

The Case So Far

At Thursday's hearing, Judge Stanley found probable cause, reviewed Long's rights, and appointed a public defender to represent her, according to the court minutes.

The court minutes reflect that Long's attorney addressed the court regarding RCW 10.77, the state law governing competency proceedings, and said he would not bring a motion under the statute at this time.

Citing Long's charges and her criminal or warrant history, the State requested $10,000 bail in the new case. Long's attorney reserved argument, and the court granted the request. 

Long was additionally before the court Thursday on a bench warrant in that separate case, with the hearing noticed as both a bench warrant hearing and a preliminary appearance. The police report states that dispatch confirmed a felony arrest warrant for Long before she was taken into custody Wednesday.

Should Long post bail, her conditions of release require her to maintain a physical residence and restrict her travel to Washington state. 

Long has not yet entered a plea. Arraignment on both cases is set for this afternoon at 1 p.m.