Custer man arrested after commandeering ferry utility vehicle at Bainbridge dock

A 33-year-old man was arrested for taking a motor vehicle without permission after he allegedly jumped on an orange utility vehicle at the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal and started driving it around in circles in the parking lot at the ferry dock.

Bainbridge police were called at 11 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16 for a report of a man kicking a gate, and were then told the man had commandeered one of the orange utility vehicles used by ferry workers.

Bainbridge police detained the man, later identified as Tomas Perez Olguin of Custer, until the Washington State Patrol arrived.

Bainbridge officers said the man was belligerent, and had been staggering and appeared to be impaired by something.

Olguin was unsteady on his feet and was placed in the back of the trooper’s patrol car. He began talking quickly, and a statement of probable cause from the investigating trooper said Olguin had mood swings that went from laughter to belligerence to laughter again.

An officer reviewed video footage of the incident and watched as a man who looked like Olguin jumped onto the orange vehicle and began driving it around in an erratic manner.

Olguin was taken into custody for taking a motor vehicle without permission, driving under the influence, and driving with a suspended license.

When questioned, he told police that he had permission to drive the state-owned vehicle. When asked who gave him permission, Olguin allegedly said he gave himself permission.

Police obtained a warrant to draw blood from Olguin, and he was taken to Harrison Medical Center-Bremerton for the blood draw.

He was then booked into Kitsap County Jail for taking a motor vehicle without permission, driving under the influence, and third-degree driving with a suspended license.

Bail was set at $50,000.

Police later learned Olguin had three prior complaints for third-degree driving with a suspended license, as well as a previous DUI complaint and a conviction for vehicular assault.

Olguin was charged in Kitsap County District Court of second-degree taking a motor vehicle without permission on Thursday, Nov. 17.

The charge, a felony, can result in a maximum five-year prison term and $10,000 fine upon conviction.