Stolen tractor found

Published 1:57 pm Wednesday, March 19, 2014

The backhoe stolen two weeks ago from Sequim Bay State Park was recovered Nov. 25 but the person suspected of stealing it remains at large.

"There’s nothing yet. I know our guys continued working over the weekend to follow up on some leads," said Chief Criminal Deputy Ron Cameron on Tuesday, Dec. 1.

The John Deere 110 4×4 backhoe, valued at $45,000, was located Wednesday, Nov. 25, in a wooded area along Old Gardiner Road in Jefferson County. Building materials also were recovered.

The main suspect in that and other thefts, 48-year-old Christopher Ray Ahlstedt of Port Angeles, was arrested Nov. 19 on North Barr Road in Agnew. He escaped after kicking out a police car window.

Ahlstedt was charged Nov. 24 with one count each of first-degree possession of stolen property and second-degree trafficking in stolen property.

An arrest warrant was issued for Ahlstedt after the charges were presented to Clallam County Superior Court Judge George Wood.