BREMERTON – Swift, coordinated teamwork between the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office and Bremerton Police Department led to the identification and capture of a 22-year-old Bremerton man wanted for investigation of a hit-and-run on Harlow Drive Feb. 7.

The crash injured two Bremerton women, one seriously.

The women were traveling southbound in a gold 2000 Honda Accord sedan around 2:22 p.m. near the intersection with Price Road, not far from Kitsap Lake. A black 1994 Honda Civic that was speeding northward crossed the center line on a curve and crashed into them, according to a preliminary report from the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office.

The Civic came to rest in the ditch while the Accord stopped in the roadway. The driver of the Civic, described as a white man in his 20s with no teeth, exited the car and ran into the woods.

The man has a slim build and dark, curly hair. He was wearing a tan jacket and blue jeans.

Bremerton Police attempted to track the man using a police dog, but they were unsuccessful. KCSO deputies investigated the crash.

The Honda Accord was driven by a 59-year-old Bremerton woman. An 84-year-old Bremerton woman was riding in the front passenger seat.

The driver sustained serious, non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton for treatment.

The passenger was transported to Harrison Medical Center for evaluation. Both were wearing seat belts at the time of the collision.

Harlow Road was closed to through traffic for about four hours while deputies investigated. Excessive speed appeared to be a contributing factor in the crash.

The driver of the Accord said she saw the Civic speeding toward them and fishtailing or sliding out of control. The woman said her Accord was stopped or nearly stopped when the Civic hit them.

Another woman, who was standing near her home, estimated the Civic was traveling 80 mph. “She said she could hear the (Civic) tires skipping on the pavement,” according to a KCSO report.

During the initial investigation, the registered owner of the Civic told officers that his vehicle had been stolen from the Harborside Commons parking garage in downtown Bremerton sometime after 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6. The owner later filed a stolen vehicle report with Bremerton police.

On Monday, Feb. 8, Bremerton police detectives reviewed surveillance video from the parking garage security cameras and were able to witness the theft of the vehicle and isolate a photo of the suspect. Still photos of the suspect were created from the video and disseminated to local law enforcement agencies.

Within minutes, a sheriff’s detective recognized the suspect as Ryan Wayne Linden, 22, of Bremerton, and provided the name to Bremerton police. The name was broadcast to local agencies and 10 minutes later the suspect was seen walking on Lower Wheaton Way by Bremerton police detectives. He was taken into custody without incident.

When interviewed, Linden admitted to both the theft of the motor vehicle and his involvement in the hit-and-run collision.

According to court documents, Linden was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and hit-and-run, a felony.

During a police interview, Linden said he left his residence around noon Feb. 7 with the intention of finding a vehicle to steal so he could get to the west side of Bremerton. The man used a theft device to gain entry to the Honda Civic he found parked on the top deck, and to start the car.

Bail was set at $50,000.