PORT ANGELES — A 25-year-old Port Angeles man recently featured on Washington’s Most Wanted will appear in Clallam County Superior Court at 1 p.m. today.
Jonathan W. Heckathorn was booked into the Clallam County jail Thursday morning on several warrants and for investigation of several theft-related crimes. His initial court appearance is today.
Port Angeles police arrested Heckathorn after Officer Luke Brown pulled over a vehicle early Thursday for investigation of speeding and a temporary permit that possibly had been tampered with, according to a police report.
Brown wrote in the report that while he was getting information from the driver he recognized Heckathorn in the passenger seat, saying he knows him from a previous arrest and from incarcerations in the Clallam County jail.
“One of the advantages of having Officer Brown is he has worked for so many years in the Clallam County jail and he knows on-sight a lot of our repeat offenders in this community,” said Deputy Chief Jason Viada. “That’s one of the great things Officer Brown brings to our department.”
Brown, who joined the police force in 2016, knew Heckathorn was wanted on several warrants and that the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office had probable cause for arrest, he wrote in the report.
Heckathorn was booked into jail on warrants related to two burglary cases, two violations of domestic violence no contact orders and third-degree malicious mischief.
He was also booked for investigation of first-degree burglary, theft of a firearm, first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, first-degree theft, second-degree theft and second-degree vehicle prowl, all stemming from Sheriff’s Office investigations.
Heckathorn was featured on Fox News’ Washington’s Most Wanted on Sunday.
Heckathorn had told the driver of the vehicle he had been on Washington’s Most Wanted, but she thought he was kidding, she told police.
When the car was pulled over, Heckathorn told her he was going to jail, the report said.
Clallam County Sheriff’s Detective Brian Knutson said the Sheriff’s Office is referring at least one burglary case — from February — to the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and is investigating a few others.
“We have to do some more investigation before we can show he is related,” he said. “We’re in the early stages with these other cases.”
He said the February burglary was in the Port Angeles area and that law enforcement suspects Heckathorn of being involved in cases involving stolen property.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do, I can tell you that,” he said. “We have at least one solid case.”
Knutson said he saw screenshots of Heckathorn apparently commenting on a Facebook post about being featured on Washington’s Most Wanted.
Heckathorn also commented on the Peninsula Daily News website on a story published in which the Sheriff’s Office requested help in finding him.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
