PORT ANGELES — Law enforcement officers were searching this afternoon for a man who escaped from the kitchen of the Clallam County jail.
The man was identified as Anthony Joshua Freitas, 25, of Port Angeles.
Freitas — who is white and weighs 160 pounds — was being held at the jail on $5,000 bond for investigation of taking a motor vehicle without the owner’s permission and third-degree malicious mischief, both of which are non-violent property crimes.
Sgt. Luke Brown of the sheriff’s office said Freitas probably does not present a danger to the public.
“We don’t have any concern at this time that he has a violent history,” Brown said.
However, given his current circumstances, he should not be approached if seen, said Ron Sukert, chief corrections deputy.
Sgt. Brian King, chief criminal deputy with the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, said Freitas had been on trustee status when he escaped.
Kitchen staff reported his absence to corrections deputies at about 3 p.m. today. Staff member said Freitas had last been seen about 15 minutes earlier, Sukert said.
The jail was placed into lockdown status pending a complete search of the inmates’ work area as well as the housing unit to which Freitas was assigned.
At about 3:05 p.m., a second search confirmed that the inmate was no longer inside the facility.
The area surrounding the jail, located northeast of Lincoln and Fourth streets in downtown Port Angeles, has been searched by sheriff’s deputies and Port Angeles police officers, and continue to search now, Sukert said.
King said searchers had requested a police dog team to aid them.
Clallam County Sheriff’s detectives are investigating.
Any member of the public coming into contact with Freitas should call 360-417-2459.
