PORT ANGELES — Authorities have one man in custody and continued looking for two more suspects late Monday afternoon in a heist that netted burglars $37,000 in precious stones and product from an online jewelry business.
Bail was set at $20,000 Monday in Clallam County Superior Court for Justin Edward Davis, 32, arrested Sunday for investigation of two counts of first-degree theft and one count of second-degree burglary.
Charges are expected to be filed against Davis at a court hearing at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
The business on west U.S. Highway 101 was reported burglarized Feb. 3. when the $37,000 in jewels and product was stolen — and after which the owner installed a video camera system, sheriff’s Sgt. John Hollis said in a press release.
Authorities received a second report of a burglary at the business Sunday, when they identified Davis’ image and that of Zachary Michael Taylor-Armstrong, 25, that were recorded on the new surveillance system, Hollis said.
They were rummaging through the man’s office, according to Davis’ probable cause statement.
Davis, driving a red Chevy pickup, was arrested by Deputy Pat Woolman about nine hours later, at about 5 p.m., at the intersection of Eden Valley Road and state Highway 112 west of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe reservation.
Some of the stolen jewelry was in Davis’ truck, Hollis said.
Davis said he knew where the rest of the jewelry was, identified a man who allegedly let them in the building, and identified two men who were with him at the time of the heist, according to the statement.
Further investigation led to a residence on Barnacle Drive on the Lower Elwha Klallam reservation, where authorities said they recovered more stolen jewelry.
There was evidence the jewelry was cut up to be sold to scrap dealers who trade in gold and precious metals, melt it down and sell it by the pound, sheriff’s office Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King said.
Authorities are seeking the public’s help in locating Taylor-Armstrong and Nicholas Tyler Roberts, 24, King said.
King said the individuals involved had an intimate knowledge of the business they burglarized.
“We haven’t recovered a significant amount of the product at this time,” he said.
“Our investigation is going down a path of wherever those items went.”
The business owner did not have insurance, King said.
Taylor-Armstrong is a 150-pound, 5-foot-11 white male with brown hair and blue eyes.
Roberts is a 145-pound, 5-foot-7 white male with black hair and brown eyes.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
