Mar 31, 2016 2 min read

A Washington man, already wanted by East Washington police for allegedly pulling a gun on three people earlier this month, is facing more charges after crashing head-on into a Washington police cruiser while trying to flee from police Tuesday night.

Russell Porter, 20, of 121 Poplar St., was spotted by city police about 7:50 p.m. driving on West Chestnut Street. When they tried to stop him for driving with a suspended license, he tried to flee. Police said he went around one cruiser and accelerated before crashing head-on into a police car driven by Sgt. Michael Sulerud. Sulerud was not injured, police said.

After crashing into the police car, Porter ran in the 10 block of West Chestnut Street and leaving behind a female passenger. Porter was apprehended by police near the intersection of North Franklin and Walnut streets. Inside his vehicle, police found two cellphone and a container with various prescription pills.

Porter faces several charges in Tuesday’s incident, including reckless endangerment.

Porter was arraigned before District Judge Robert Redlinger on three counts each of reckless endangerment, terroristic threats and harassment. East Washington police obtained a warrant for Porter after he reportedly followed three people in a vehicle to the 500 block of East Wheeling Street on March 15. He allegedly told the three that he intended to harm them and then pulled a gun from the waistband of his pants. He then got back in his car and left.

Porter also was wanted on a bench warrant after he failed to appear Monday before Redlinger for a preliminary hearing on drug-related and underage drinking charges. The charges were ordered held for court in his absence. Porter and two other men were arrested Feb. 7 by city police during a traffic stop on Tube Alley. Police had found them with suspected heroin and paraphernalia.