SEQUIM — An 18-year-old man arrested in connection with a string of burglaries in and around Sequim was identified through a witness to one of the break-ins and by fingerprints on file, a police spokeswoman said Tuesday.
Cody B. Runnion, who was identified as a transient without a permanent address, faces arraignment on charges of second- and third-degree burglary at 9 a.m. Friday in Clallam County Superior Court.
Second-degree burglary is punishable by a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.
Third-degree burglary is punishable by a maximum penalty of a year in prison and/or a $5,000 fine.
Sequim police arrested him Friday for investigation of residential burglary, second-degree theft, third-degree theft and third-degree malicious mischief after a neighbor reported a break-in.
Fingerprint identified
After the arrest, he was identified by a fingerprint obtained from at least one other crime scene, said Officer Maris Turner, Sequim Police Department spokeswoman.
“It’s something we can count on one hand that we have identified anyone based on a fingerprint,” Turner said.
“It was literally that we had the prints to compare and compared them, and that led to his ID.”
Runnion was booked into Clallam County Correctional Facility on Friday and remained there in lieu of $20,000 bail on Tuesday, court records show.
Confession to others
Turner said that Runnion admitted to investigators to six burglaries, four inside Sequim city limit.
She said the homes were in the 9000 block of Old Olympic Highway, in the 600 block of West Spruce Street, in the 300 block of Honeycomb Circle and in the 300 block of West Alder Street during July, according to Turner.
During the burglaries, Runnion allegedly stole laptop computers, a Wii video game system, digital cameras, knives, a photo printer, jewelry and a safe, Turner said.
Some of the stolen property was recovered after the service of a search warrant, she said.
Runnion gained entry into the residences by forcing doors or windows, causing damage, Turner said.
Turner stressed that it was a report from a neighbor that led to Runnion’s arrest, and said it shows the effectiveness of neighborhood watch programs.
“It was great that a neighbor noticed and reported it, even though that’s not an organized neighborhood,” Turner said.
“Recognizing suspicious or criminal activity of any type and reporting it to the police is the backbone of the Block or Business Watch Program,” Turner said.
For more information about block watch programs in Sequim, phone the police department at 360-683-7227 or e-mail Turner at mturner@ci.sequim.wa.us .
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391, or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.