PAPD 21-21884 and PAPD 21-21768
On December 24, 2021 PAPD Officers were dispatched to a local general store regarding a shoplift complaint. Sgt. Tom Kuch arrived and was escorted by staff to the sporting goods section. Staff identified a shoplift suspect and requested he be issued a 3 year trespass notice. He contacted a subject known to him as Nathan O. Reid (24 years old and from Port Angeles). Reid was observed to be in possession of a Ruger Bearcat .380 caliber handgun.
Reid was issued a 3 year trespass notice for the store in question. Officers at the time lacked probable cause to arrest Reid. Officers recovered the handgun that Reid left in the store.
Subsequent investigation determined that the handgun had been reported stolen in a vehicle burglary (car prowl) on December 22nd, 2021 and based on criminal history check Reid was determined to be prohibited by State and Federal law to be in possession of a firearm.
Reid was later located at a different store by PAPD Officers and placed under arrest. He was booked into the Clallam County Jail for RCW 9A.56.310 "Possession of a Stolen Firearm" and RCW 9.41.40.1A (5212) "Unlawful Possession of a Firearm".
This case illustrates the value of business working with area law enforcement to both prevent, interdict and solve crimes. In this case store personnel suspected recent shoplifting incidents, called PenCom and requested that an officer respond, and exercised their authority as a representative the property owner to put the subject on notice that he was trespassed from the store for 3 years. This led to officers observing the subject in possession of the stolen firearm and the recovery of the stolen firearm.
The above was among Sgt. Tom Kuch last cases prior to his December 26, 2021 "last patrol".
