Burglary suspect eludes pursuing deputies in Port Angeles chase

Andrew Donald Luquette

Andrew Donald Luquette

PORT ANGELES — Clallam County sheriff’s deputies pursued a man Wednesday morning who had been sought since a Woodcock Road house was burgled last week.

But they were unable to capture him during a foot chase with at least one police dog in the Morse Creek area.

Andrew Donald Luquette, 31, a transient from the Sequim area, is one of four men suspected in a March 5 home burglary along Woodcock Road near Sequim in which tools, personal property and a Jeep were taken.

PenCom 9-1-1 received a call at about 9 a.m. from a former girlfriend of his saying that Luquette was at her home on Blue Jay Place east of Port Angeles, said Ron Cameron, chief criminal deputy for the Sheriff’s Office.

“Everyone and his dog has been looking for him, literally,” Cameron said.

Deputies converged on the area, and after a foot chase with at least one police dog joining the search, Luquette disappeared into the Four Seasons Park area north of U.S. Highway 101.

Cameron said he might have crossed Morse Creek or could be in one of the many houses in the area.

The chase was called off at about 10:45 a.m., he said.

Two men suspected in the burglary have been taken into custody: Drew Tyler Balch, 21, and Ryan Joseph Luquette, 34, brother of Andrew Luquette.

Still at large along with Andrew Luquette is Ronnie Lee Bayley, 37, also described as a Sequim-area transient.

Andrew Luquette is described as 6 feet, 1 inch tall with brown hair and eyes. He weighs 207 pounds.

Bayley is 5 feet, 5 inches tall with brown hair and eyes, weighing 150 pounds.

Balch was apprehended after a chase that covered 19.8 miles and ended last Wednesday morning on Old Gardiner Road.

Balch remained in the county jail Wednesday on $52,500 bail.

He was charged Tuesday with attempting to elude a police vehicle, second-degree driving with a suspended or revoked license and hit-and-run/property damage on an unattended vehicle.

Ryan Luquette was taken into custody Friday. He was charged Monday with second-degree burglary and remained in jail Wednesday. Bail was set at $10,000.

The Sheriff’s Office said that investigation began with reports of a suspicious gray truck and red Jeep Cherokee parked on Many Feathers Way in Sequim.

Witnesses told deputies they saw people transferring items between the two vehicles.

Deputies said they pursued and caught up with the truck, driven by Balch, and later learned that the Jeep and its contents had been taken from a burglarized house on Woodcock Road.

The Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant March 6 on a shed next to a house in the Sequim area where Andrew Luquette was seen unloading items.

Deputies said the items were stolen from the Woodcock Road home, and they found the stolen Jeep stripped the next day along a logging road near the 2900 block of Blue Mountain Road in Agnew.

________

Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Janet Lucas, left, finds a special purchase of a “mail manager” at Swains early Friday morning. Black Friday shoppers descended on the Port Angeles store at 8 a.m. There were dozens of early risers who went looking for special bargains on one of the biggest shopping days of the year. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Black Friday

Janet Lucas, left, finds a special purchase of a “mail manager” at… Continue reading

Clallam adopts housing needs

Population projected at 86,700 by 2045

The Wall That Heals, a Vietnam War memorial, coming to Port Townsend

Opening ceremony to be held at Jefferson County airport on Sept. 11

Sherry Phillips, chair of the Festival of Trees design committee, stands next to the tree Twelve Days of Christmas, which she designed personally. (Leah Leach/for Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles woman shares joy of decorating trees

Sherry Phillips lends talent for all of festival’s 34 years

EYE ON THE PENINSULA: Public hearings set on proposed 2025 budgets

Meetings across the North Olympic Peninsula

Serving up a Thanksgiving meal are, from left, Taylor Hale, Gina Landon, Shawn Lammers, Ryan Lammers, Sara Taylor and Jean Ball, all volunteers with Holiday Meals, located in the Tri-Area neighborhoods of Chimacum, Port Hadlock and Irondale. The group expected to serve up to 460 full Thanksgiving dinners with 287 being picked up, 118 delivered and 55 eaten at the Tri-Area Community Center. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Thanksgiving meals kick off holiday joy

Smiles, warmth light up Queen of Angels Catholic Church

From left, Gail Jangarrd, Bob Dunbar and Sammy Dionne treat a lucky dog to a biscuit made with organic, healthy and human-grade ingredients.
Gatheringplace to open public phase of capital campaign

Nonprofit to construct building for developmentally disabled

Port of Port Townsend on track to hit revenue goal

Agency receives eight bids on stormwater treatment project

The outside of the Vern Burton Community Center is decorated with giant Christmas balls and lighted trees on Wednesday for the opening ceremonies of the Festival of Trees. “White Christmas” was played by the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra’s brass quintet and then sung by Amanda Bacon. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Festival of Trees opens

The outside of the Vern Burton Community Center is decorated with giant… Continue reading

Tamara Clinger decorates a tree with the theme of “Frosted Cranberries” on Monday at the Vern Burton Community Center in Port Angeles. The helping hand is Margie Logerwell. More than three dozen trees will be available for viewing during the 34th annual Festival of Trees event this weekend. Tickets are available at www.omhf.org. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Finishing touches

Tamara Clinger decorates a tree with the theme of “Frosted Cranberries” on… Continue reading

Grants to help Port Angeles port upgrades

Projects, equipment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Joseph Molotsky holds Jet, a Harris’s hawk. Jet, 14 or 15, has been at Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue for about seven years. Jet used to hunt with a falconer and was brought to the rescue after sustaining injuries while attempting to escape an attack from a gray horned owl in Eastern Washington. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)
Wild bird rescue to host open house

Officials to showcase expanded educational facilities