On Aug. 21, Clallam County deputies arrested Scott James Haynes, a 40-year-old Sequim resident, and booked him into jail for two counts of theft in the second degree, identity theft, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a dangerous weapon and on a outstanding warrant for failure to appear, driving while license suspended III.
On Aug. 21, at about 3:52 a.m., a citizen called 9-1-1 to report a suspicious activity after seeing a vehicle driving from mailbox to mailbox in the 1500 block of Hooker Road. Deputy Ken Oien responded and located the vehicle parked on private property approximately one mile away and observed what he believed to be stolen mail inside the vehicle.
Officer Rick Larsen of the Sequim Police Department, deputies Bill Cortani, Mike Backes, Amie Bundy and Sgt. Lyman Moores of the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene to assist in the investigation.
On the scene
During the investigation Mark H. Cannon was contacted on scene and arrested on an outstanding warrant for concealed weapons violation and transported to jail.
Haynes attempted to flee the scene and during a systematic grid search of the area by Moores and Backes, Haynes was located hiding underneath a travel trailer. During a search incident to arrest an open bladed knife was found in the front pocket of Haynes’ sweatshirt.
Oien obtained a search warrant for the residence, including Haynes’ vehicle, to look for and seize any and all stolen mail. During the execution of the search warrant about five large shopping bags of mail were recovered from a trash can outside of the residence. The shopping bags contained about 600 individual pieces of stolen mail, from 200 different addresses in Clallam County.
United States Postal Inspector Anna Weller out of the Seattle Division responded to assist in the investigation. The mail was turned over to Weller for processing and returning to the intended recipients.
Based on the facts and circumstances of the case, an additional warrant was obtained to search Haynes’ residence in the 300 block of South Solmar Drive, Sequim. During the search of Haynes’ residence, deputies recovered drug paraphernalia, stolen mail, a suspected stolen .22 caliber rifle and a homemade firearm suppressor (silencer), made from a used oil filter.
In addition to his outstanding warrants and charges related to this investigation, Haynes also was booked into custody for another case involving the unlawful use of a credit card which had been stolen from the mail two months prior.
The mail theft case has been turned over to the United States Post Office for review and possible federal charging.
Keeping your mail safe
If you believe that your mail may have been stolen in the prior weeks, contact the United States Postal Service at 800-275-8777 or via its website at www.postalinspectors.uspis.gov.
The Sheriff’s Office recommends that individuals and businesses check their mail every day or use a drop box, and consider purchasing a locking mailbox in order to lower the chances of being victimized. The Sheriff’s Office also encourages individuals to report any suspicious activity as this helps in the prevention of crimes each year.
