Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – Port Angeles police officers recovered a stolen vehicle Thursday morning, arrested a suspect, and in the process appear to have helped solve a theft being investigated by Olympic National Park officials.
Police Chief Brian Smith tells us 22-year-old Brandon James Bishop of Port Angeles was arrested after Officer Luke Brown spotted a red Ford pickup parked near the fairgrounds that had been reported stolen on Monday. The driver of that vehicle had also been seen trying to steal a trailer from the parking lot of the Red Lion Hotel on Tuesday, but was foiled from doing so and got away.
Brown requested backup for the arrest and later a warrant was obtained to search the truck. The search revealed numerous items believed to have been stolen from multiple car prowls, including scientific equipment, a communications radio and other items believed to have been taken from an employee of Olympic National Park.
Chief Smith says the discovery of the Park’s property could possibly lead to federal charges.
“The federal crime happened in the city, but the property belonged to the National Park Service. So yeah, it absolutely could be also a federal case because it’s their property.”
Smith says there is also evidence that could link Bishop to another auto theft being investigated.
(PAPD photo of stolen truck and driver, taken by unnamed witness, during attempted trailer theft.)