The Hoquiam Police Department assisted the US Parks Department in serving a search warrant on a residence in Hoquiam on Tuesday.  The known occupants of the residence were believed to have stolen credit cards and other items from campers that had been up at the Olympic National Forest. 

Here is more on this story from Hoquiam Police Chief Jeff Myers;

In the morning hours of September 25, 2018, Hoquiam officers and detectives served a search warrant at a residence in the 2600 block of Aberdeen Ave to assist United States Park Rangers investigating a theft case within the Olympic National Park.

Campers who had just completed a backcountry trip reported their camping equipment containing credit cards and other valuable were stolen during the night at the end of the trail by suspects who were last seen leaving quickly in a vehicle.

Once the campers made it out of the park and contacted their bank, they discovered the stolen credit cards had been used at several locations. The US Park Rangers were able to obtain surveillance video to identify a possible suspect.

The US Park Rangers contacted Hoquiam Police whereupon HPD Sgt. Mitchell applied for a search warrant for the residence where the suspect is known to reside.

As the investigation progressed, Hoquiam detectives also learned this same suspect was possibly involved in thefts from local Washington State Parks in both the South Beach and North Beach areas. Apparently the suspect was using a torch to cut into the metal park pay boxes and steal camping fee payments, resulting in not only theft of the money, but also expensive damage to the drop boxes.

The search warrant was served by members of the Hoquiam Police Department, US Park Rangers and a park ranger from State Parks. Detectives from Aberdeen PD also responded to assist in processing possible evidence.

Three persons at the home were taken into custody on either pending charges related to the investigation or outstanding arrest warrants. One of the subjects arrested on an existing warrant will also be submitted to the county prosecutor as he was found to be in possession of felony drugs.

Numerous items of suspected stolen property were recovered and are being processed at the Hoquiam Police Department as the investigation is ongoing at this time.

This location was also referred to city Code Enforcement for several nuisance/ code violations outside of the premises.