Man faces charges in Port Angeles burglary; police say suspect left behind ‘drug kit’

PORT ANGELES — Bail of $5,000 was set Monday for a 22-year-old man who allegedly left a personal “drug kit” containing small amounts of suspected heroin and methamphetamine Sunday at a burglarized house in west Port Angeles.

Michael Cole Groff, who appeared Monday in Superior Court, will be arraigned at 9 a.m. Friday on charges of residential burglary, possession of stolen property and possession of a controlled substance.

According to the Port Angeles Police Department’s arrest report, a woman in the 800 block of West 12th Street told police Sunday morning that a black purse with her car keys, ID and credit cards was missing from her kitchen and that there were two bags of personal belongings that she did not recognize in her carport.

One bag was a stolen school backpack, while the other contained a metal box with syringes — one partially full of a substance police say tested positive for opiates — and a bindle baggie of white crystals suspected to be methamphetamine.

The bag with drugs also contained a journal with Groff’s name written on the front and a stack of DVDs labeled “Cole’s New DVD’s,” according to the arrest report.

Cole was arrested Monday at his Emily Lane home.

Cole said he could not remember anything from the night before because of the drugs he had taken, nor could he remember anything about a black purse, according to arresting Officer John Nutter.

Cole told Nutter that he knew he must have done something the night before because he had found the credit cards in his pocket when he woke up Sunday morning, according to Nutter’s report.

More in News

A cyclist rides by the 26-foot sloop that was dashed against the rocks along the Larry Scott Trail on Wednesday due to 30 mph winds from an atmospheric river storm buffeting the North Olympic Peninsula. A 29-year-old Port Townsend man, who was not identified, and his dog were rescued by a Coast Guard rescue swimmer from Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Storm aftermath

A cyclist rides by the 26-foot sloop that was dashed against the… Continue reading

D
Readers contribute $73K to Home Fund to date

Donations can be made for community grants this spring

Court vacates receiver’s extension

Master lease at Fort Worden deemed to be rejected

Washington College Grant program set to expand with new state law

Support for low- and middle-income families available

Port Angeles to recycle Christmas trees

The city of Port Angeles will pick up Christmas… Continue reading

Agencies partner to rescue Port Townsend man

Rough seas ground sailor on Christmas

Ellen White Face, left, and Dora Ragland enjoy some conversation after finishing a Christmas dinner prepared by Salvation Army Port Angeles staff and volunteers. The Salvation Army anticipated serving 120-150 people at its annual holiday meal on Tuesday. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
Hundreds served at annual Salvation Army dinner

Numbers represent growing need for assistance, captain says

Jefferson separates prosecutor, coroner roles

Funeral director hired on one-year basis

Public concerned about hospital partnership

Commenters question possible Catholic affiliation

Sylvia White of Port Townsend is making a major gift to the nonprofit Northwind Art. (Diane Urbani/Northwind Art)
Port Townsend artist makes major gift to Northwind

Artist Sylvia White, who envisioned an arts center in… Continue reading

Skaters glide across the Winter Ice Village on Front Street in downtown Port Angeles. The Winter Ice Village, operated by the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce, is open daily from noon to 9 p.m. through Jan. 5. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Fresh ice

Skaters glide across the Winter Ice Village on Front Street in downtown… Continue reading