‘Deadliest Catch’ son Jake Harris arrested and jailed on suspicion of DUI, hit and run

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Jake Harris, the younger son of the late captain Phil Harris of ‘Deadliest Catch’ fame, was arrested Thursday night on suspicion of driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license, plus suspicion of involvement in a hit-and-run a few hours earlier.

The 24-year-old was pulled over on Interstate 5 near downtown Seattle about 9 p.m. and arrested after failing a field sobriety test, according to Washington State Trooper Dan McDonald. Troopers learned that a car matching the description of Harris’ BMW had rear-ended another vehicle on I-5 about four hours earlier and that its driver had fled the scene, he said.

A family spokesman confirmed the arrest but told KIRO-TV in Seattle that Jake wasn’t intoxicated and hadn’t been in an accident.

Phil Harris, captain of the Cornelia Marie, died Feb. 9 after suffering a stroke in January. In comments on this blog, the outpouring of love and support for Jake and his brother Josh Harris in the wake of their dad’s death was truly touching. Both sons work as deckhands on the show, though immediately after his father’s stroke Josh had stayed aboard, awaiting the arrival of another captain.

‘The boys are holding up as much as possible,’ executive producer Thom Beers told Show Tracker in an interview published this morning about the ‘Deadliest Catch’ marathon that Discovery will air Sunday.

‘It’s been tough. They’re a little rudderless right now. [Phil] ran that ship, and now they’re having to deal with it themselves. The question now is whether the boys will continue to follow in the footsteps and what their plans are. That’s what the off-season is going to be -- they’ll have to figure it out and we’ll be there to support them whatever they decide.’

After being jailed Thursday night, Jake Harris appeared in court Friday morning with an attorney. KIRO reports that bail was set at $2,000; TMZ says it’s $1,500.

People magazine reported today on Jake’s expressions of grief at a Feb. 13 memorial for his dad -- an event where ‘a lot of buddies’ could honor his life, held at a local casino that was one of Phil’s favorites.

‘We didn’t want to make it really sad,’ Jake said.

-- Christie D’Zurilla

Related dispatches from the Ministry of Gossip:

Captain Phil Harris to be seen in next ‘Deadliest Catch’ season

‘Deadliest Catch’ captain Phil Harris dies after recent stroke

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