Burglary in Dungeness leads to drug bust

An early morning burglary on Wednesday, March 9, on the 100 block of Mountain View Drive, led to two arrests, including the homeowner in Dungeness.

 

An early morning burglary on Wednesday, March 9, on the 100 block of Mountain View Drive, led to two arrests, including the homeowner in Dungeness.

Sgt. Lyman Moores with Clallam County Sheriff’s Office said that homeowner Michael Pimentel, 56, called 9-1-1 at 7:20 a.m. after he awoke to a noise inside his home. When he went across the hall to another bedroom there was a person standing behind the door, which led to a struggle, Moores said.

Pimentel held the alleged burglar Robert D. Akin, 38, at gunpoint awaiting authorities. Moores said 9-1-1 dispatch heard a confrontation between the two men that led Pimentel to hit Akin over the head with his pistol.

Pimentel told law enforcement that Akin fled his home after the confrontation and he or a possible accomplice was armed with a .22 rifle from his home.

About 10 minutes later, Akin was arrested by Deputy Ralph Edgington nearby walking through a neighbor’s yard with a laceration on his head consistent with the strike received from the pistol.

Akin was transported to Olympic Medical Center for treatment before being booked into Clallam County Jail. As of March 15, he is charged with second degree burglary and has multiple accounts of failure to appear in court warrants. Bail is set for $2,500.

After reviewing the scene, Moores said Pimentel’s front window was opened and a book case was moved, which did appear someone went through and moved it.

Akin told law enforcement he wasn’t burglarizing the home but it was a drug deal gone bad, Moores said.

Sheriff’s Office authorities investigated Akin’s claim and learned Pimentel has been under investigation by the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team for allegedly possessing and dealing drugs to undercover OPNET team members, Moores said.

Later that night, law enforcement searched Pimentel’s home with a search warrant and recovered about $3,500 in cash and different amounts of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. Pimentel was arrested and charged with possession of the drugs and intent to deliver, Moores said, and he’s since been released from Clallam County Jail.

Pimentel told law enforcement that he believed another person was involved in the attempted burglary because his .22 rifle was missing. Moores said they continue to investigate a possible driver for Akin named Ashley but have been unable to identify her.