POULSBO, Wash. — A Poulsbo man who was taken into custody on suspicion of DUI after crashing into multiple vehicles on the freeway is now accused of killing his girlfriend just minutes before.
Stephen Harvey, 48, was arrested on Feb. 5 after he "recklessly struck" at least 10 vehicles along State Route 3 and then tried to evade law enforcement by trying to get into moving vehicles on the highway, court documents say. Harvey eventually jumped into a moving pickup truck and was chased down by a Kitsap County Sheriff's Office deputy and arrested.
During the agency's investigation, evidence was found that connected Harvey to the killing of his girlfriend, Andrea R. Gaudette, at her home in Bremerton. Harvey and Gaudette had a "contentious" relationship, court documents say, and the two had recently lived together before finding separate housing, according to people close to her.
Bremerton police reviewed Gaudette's home security footage after a search warrant, which shows Harvey moving throughout the home while Gaudette tells him to leave before he pushes her out of frame. According to court documents, Harvey could be seen quickly leaving the house 15 minutes after Gaudette was last seen on camera.
He was arrested 11 minutes later after his truck collided with numerous vehicles on SR 3 and he tried to access moving cars before jumping into the bed of a moving pickup truck. Court documents say the driver of the truck called 911 and was advised to pull over, after which Harvey jumped out and was eventually caught by a deputy and arrested.
Harvey was "manic and began yelling and lacked a clear train of thought" when deputies spoke with him, and it was suspected that he was under the influence of drugs. He refused to take a field sobriety test but had his blood drawn at a nearby hospital while being treated.
He is charged with murder in the second degree with a domestic violence enhancement, felony DUI, three hit-and-run counts and reckless driving.
Harvey appeared in court on Monday, where bail was set at $2 million. His next hearing is scheduled for March 6.
