Two men arrested for investigation of burglary west of Port Angeles

Deputies arrest one found in truck of a car, another at his home.

PORT ANGELES — Two men have been arrested for investigation of a Tuesday burglary west of Port Angeles, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office said.

Christopher Douglas Brogan, 28, was found hiding inside the trunk of a vehicle shortly after the alleged burglary of a Colville Road residence, investigators said.

His co-defendant, Daniel Lee Johnson, 29, was arrested at his Port Angeles residence early Thursday, a Sheriff’s Office spokesman said.

Clallam County Superior Court Judge Christopher Melly set $10,000 bails for Brogan and Johnson at their initial court appearances Thursday.

Both men were being held for investigation of residential burglary, third-degree malicious mischief and obstructing a law enforcement officer. They remained in the Clallam County jail late Thursday.

The Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will consider filing formal charges Monday.

Sheriff’s deputies investigated a report of a suspicious vehicle driving slowly in the 200 block of Colville Road at about 5:30 p.m Tuesday.

Deputies found an abandoned car on Colville Road and canvassed the area off Dan Kelly Road west of the Elwha River.

A door of a nearby residence had been forced open, and voices could be heard inside, Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King said.

When ordered to leave the house, people broke windows and fled into the surrounding woods, King said.

Sheriff’s deputies, Port Angeles police, Elwha police, Border Patrol agents and the State Patrol established a containment area. A Port Angeles police dog was unable to track them.

Deputies obtained a search warrant for the suspicious vehicle and found Brogan hiding in the trunk, King said.

Johnson was arrested at his east Third Street residence at about 1:30 a.m. Thursday.

“The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank those citizens who chose to provide deputies with the necessary information to confirm Johnson’s identification and whereabouts,” King said in a news release.

“It is only with the public’s support that we are able to continue to be successful in holding persons such as Brogan and Johnson accountable for their actions.”

Melly would not grant Brogan’s request for a public defender based on his $2,200 monthly income from the state Department of Labor and Industries for a recent knee injury.

“I think you have the funds to hire your own attorney,” Melly told Brogan.

“If you are unable to find an attorney for whatever reason, then the court can look at an appointment.”

Brogan has eight prior felony convictions on his record since 2007, including three burglary convictions, King said.

Clallam County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Michele Devlin had requested a $20,000 bail for Brogan based on flight risk and danger to the community.

Melly granted Brogan’s request for a lower bail.

Devlin asked the judge to set Johnson’s bail at $15,000 based on his felony history, which includes a first-degree burglary conviction in 2007, she said.

Melly set the $10,000 bail and appointed Clallam Public Defender to represent Johnson.

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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsula dailynews.com.