Missed red light puts unlicensed driver's passenger back into the hands of police

Running a red light at 3:02 a.m. ended a driver's passenger his time on the lam, as an Olympia police officer happened to be at the adjacent intersection early Sunday morning, April 18.

The Olympia Police officer was traveling eastbound on Martin Way E just west of Ensign Rd NE, and spotted a vehicle traveling southbound on Ensign Rd NE, approaching the signal at Martin Way E. Thought the signal was red for the vehicle, it was traveling at a high rate of speed, and didn’t stop, traveling through the red light. Lacey Police noticed that the vehicle did not have functioning brake or tail lamps.

Olympia Police pulled over the vehicle, which was being driven by Jeffrey Ford, who had been stopped while driving the vehicle the previous week. He was warned at that time not to drive the vehicle by the same officer, because he was not a licensed driver. 

Ford’s passenger, Anthony Parker, caught the officer’s attention. Parker was not wearing a seatbelt. The officer reported that recognized Parker from previous encounters, putting in the report that Parker “had a history” of running from police or fighting officers that he came in contact with.

Ford was charged with driving without a license. Ford was cited and released.

Parker was arrested on active felony state warrant for escaping community custody on an assault conviction.  Parker was transported to the Nisqually Jail.