Man accused of assaulting ‘Deadliest Catch’ cast member sought for fleeing from Spokane County deputy

Jorel Fultz, the man accused of robbing and assaulting former “Deadliest Catch” cast member Jake Harris late last year, is back under the spotlight of local law enforcement after he was unexpectedly released from jail in April.

He is now suspected of reckless driving and running from a Spokane County deputy.

Fultz, then 29, was released from Spokane County Jail in April after serving time for crimes unrelated to the alleged robbery and assault. After his sentence was up, he was supposed to be transported to Snohomish County, where the alleged robbery against Harris took place in November. However, prosecutors there didn’t file charges in time for him to be transported while he still was in custody.

“My understanding is we were advised he was in custody, but we were not able to get it charged to get a warrant issued before he was let out of custody,” said Faye Doll, a paralegal at the Snohomish County prosecutor’s office, during an interview in May. “It’s being treated like any other out-of-custody case. He will be charged and summoned in.”

Last week, Fultz allegedly crashed a friend’s car into a tree before fleeing from Spokane County Sheriff’s deputies.

On July 22, Deputy Sam Turner was on patrol in Spokane Valley and noticed a Ford Taurus with heavily tinted windows in the area of Park Road and Sprague Avenue, according to a recently filed search warrant written by the deputy. Turner conducted a license check and learned the vehicle’s owner had a suspended license.

Not able to see who was driving, the deputy turned on his emergency lights and attempted to stop the vehicle, he wrote. But the Taurus quickly sped away, driving “recklessly” and approaching speeds of up to 75 mph in posted speed zones of 35 mph.

The Taurus eventually crashed into a tree near an apartment complex at 4405 E. Fifth Ave. near South Havana Road. Witnesses told deputies they saw a male fleeing southbound on foot.

Witnesses also saw a female passenger in the car crawl out of the driver side door and yell out “Jorel.” Turner later found the woman hiding in a nearby doghouse on the apartment property.

The woman told Turner she was a friend of Fultz, who she said was “tweaking” on meth that night and who was driving the car. During a search of the vehicle, deputies found multiple handguns and ammunition. Fultz’s previous convictions preclude him from owning a gun, Turner wrote.

Deputies also seized three cellphones, which they hope will offer clues into Fultz’s whereabouts.

“We are using that information in continuing that investigation to see what, if any, criminal acts this was associated with,” said Deputy Mark Gregory, spokesman for the sheriff’s office.

Fultz could face charges of eluding police and operating a vehicle with a suspended license.

On Nov. 12 in Marysville, the Everett Police Department found Harris, the former “Deadliest Catch” cast member, along the side of state Highway 526. Harris told police that Fultz, who was sitting behind him in the car on their way back from a casino, had begun to beat him. He told police he blacked out and woke up next to the road with his wallet and cash missing.

Everett Police said then that they would come to Spokane to take custody of Fultz, but the transfer was delayed because Fultz was still facing a charge of reckless driving in Spokane County. In April, Fultz was released from jail on that conviction.

Doll said in May that prosecutors have been aware of the severity of the crime since November and planned to file charges “soon.”

She said Tuesday that Fultz still is not formally charged, but that Prosecuting Attorney Mark Roe plans to do so.

“He does intend to charge him, it’s just a matter of dealing with deadlines and people who are in custody.”