FORKS — A Forks man and a LaPush woman arrested last week in the burglary of a Forks pizza shop have been charged with multiple crimes in the case, including burglary and theft of a motor vehicle.
Tyeson Frank LaGambina, 24, and Sarah Ellisyn Burnside, 18, both were charged Friday with one count each of first-degree theft, second-degree burglary and theft of a motor vehicle.
Police said the charges stem from LaGambina and Burnside allegedly breaking into Pacific Pizza at 870 S. Forks Ave. at about 3:30 a.m. June 10.
LaGambina is set to appear in court Tuesday, while Burnside is scheduled to be arraigned Friday.
LaGambina remained in the Clallam County jail Saturday in lieu of a $25,000 bond.
Burnside was not listed on the jail roster.
Police account
Forks Police Officer Todd Garcia gave this account of the burglary and his subsequent investigation in an arrest report filed with court documents in the case:
Garcia was called to Pacific Pizza at about 6:30 a.m. June 10 and learned from the owner, Mark Raben, that the shop had been entered after a back window was broken.
Raben told Garcia a 2-foot-by-2-foot safe with $7,000 in cash and checks had been stolen, in addition to a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu sedan that was used for deliveries.
Video surveillance footage from the outdoor security cameras of surrounding businesses showed that a small car similar in size and shape to a newer-model Volkswagen Jetta had been parked near the pizza place around the time of the burglary.
It was seen following the stolen Chevrolet Malibu north on Forks Avenue after the burglary.
A car that matched the description of the one seen tailing the Malibu was found to be associated with Burnside, who was described as in a “dating relationship” with LaGambina.
In an interview with Garcia last Monday, Burnside told Garcia she and LaGambina had been involved in the burglary and that they had burned the receipts and checks found in the Pacific Pizza safe.
Burnside also told Garcia she had driven the Chevrolet Malibu “off a cliff” about 2 miles east of U.S. Highway 101 on Sitkum-Sol Duc Road.
Forks Police Administrator Rick Bart later found the Malibu at the bottom of a 50-foot bluff at Sitkum-Sol Duc Road.
LaGambina was already in the Forks jail after having been arrested on separate state Department of Corrections warrants June 24.
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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.