PORT ANGELES – Toka John Lavacca, the suspect labeled Armed and Dangerous by the Sheriff’s Office Wednesday, has been arrested and is in custody in Clallam County Jail.
Sgt. John Keegan called in this report:
“Approximately last night at 7:45 p.m., he was taken into custody in the area of Morse Creek at a campsite that he had been staying at. After a brief foot pursuit, he surrendered and was taken into custody without any further incident. He was, after his arrest, he was interviewed. We wanted to get his side of the story. He denied that he was ever in possession of a firearm. He did say that he had an object in his hand a butane lighter that may have given off the appearance of a handgun, but he did not attempt to represent it that way. We’d like to thank the other law enforcement Partners in the area that helped us not only go out and search for him originally, but also that were receiving tips and information and forwarding them to us.”
Sgt. Keegan says they have recommended to the Prosecutor two counts of Assault in the First Degree.
40-year-old Lavacca is accused of pointing a handgun at a local couple on Tuesday after they asked him why he and his female companion were approaching the house of a neighbor.
Clallam County Sheriff’s Office photo.