PORT ANGELES — Police are asking for information in the investigation of two attempted robberies.
Police report that officers conducted a welfare check in Thursday’s early morning hours on a heavily intoxicated 51-year-old man found on the ground in the 200 block of South Lincoln Street.
The man, who had fallen, told officers that someone had tried to rob him earlier in the evening by “digging through his pockets,” although nothing was actually taken, Cpl. David Dombrowski said.
According to police, the man was too intoxicated to provide more details and was driven to a local hotel for the night.
When police contacted the man later in the day, he was not able to add any more to the story, Dombrowski said.
“It’s not clear at all just what had happened to him,” he said.
The man had money in his pockets that was not taken. His cellphone was missing, but it wasn’t clear if it had been stolen or misplaced, Dombrowski said.
About 15 minutes later, police responded to a 9-1-1 call in the area of Orcas Avenue and the Port Angeles Library on South Peabody Street.
A 24-year-old man from Port Hadlock said he had been picked up by strangers for a ride on Lincoln Street near the Safeway supermarket.
Once inside the vehicle, he was allegedly assaulted by one of the male occupants and hit in the face. He also said that someone was “digging in his pockets” and attempting to rob him.
He alleged that his wallet was taken.
He escaped by jumping from the moving vehicle, he told police.
Port Angeles officers observed injuries consistent with road rash and an assault.
The wallet was found in the road and nothing was missing, according to police.
The man described the vehicle occupants as two possibly Hispanic males and a Caucasian woman, all in their 20s.
He described the vehicle as an older white Chevrolet Suburban.
Police said the second man declined to speak further and did not want to cooperate with the investigation, including identifying any potential suspects.
“His sole interest was getting a ride to Walmart to meet with friends,” Dombrowski said.
Because they were reported in the same area, it was thought the incidents could be connected, but Dombrowski said there is no evidence connecting the two.
The only similarity is that both men said someone had gone through their pockets.
“I don’t see any danger to the public,” Dombrowski said.
The Port Angeles Police Department asks anyone with information about the incidents or potential suspects to contact Officer Swift Sanchez at 360-452-4545 or ssanchez@cityofpa.us.
The case numbers are 2017-10084 and 10085.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
