PORT ANGELES — Law enforcement authorities were searching Wednesday for a 40-year-old man who allegedly pointed a handgun at a man and woman east of Port Angeles and is believed to be armed and dangerous.
Toka John Lavacca was being sought by the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office after allegedly pointing the semiautomatic weapon at the man outside his home at about 5 p.m. Tuesday in the 2800 block of East Myrtle Street east of Port Angeles, Sheriff’s Sgt. John Keegan said Wednesday morning.
Keegan said Lavacca fled on foot after the confrontation. As of Wednesday afternoon, he had not been located.
Lavacca’s criminal history includes 2016 convictions for residential burglary and misdemeanor assault in a case in Tacoma and two 2006 convictions for misdemeanor assault in Clallam County, Keegan said.
Lavacca is a transient who is staying in residences in the East Myrtle Street area, in unincorporated Clallam County, Keegan said.
The husband and wife who were allegedly threatened by Lavacca were shaken by the event and not injured, Keegan said.
The woman identified Lavacca to authorities, Keegan said.
“They knew each other’s family,” he said.
Keegan did not know why Lavacca pointed the gun.
“That will be one of the questions we are going to ask him,” Keegan said.
The woman was driving by when she saw Lavacca pointing the handgun at her husband, Keegan said.
“She pulls up, sees what’s going on, and he turns and points the gun at her,” he said.
Keegan said the man was walking his dog when he saw a male was yelling at a female while the two were walking in the area.
The dog walker saw the couple walking toward his residence and approached them, Keegan said.
“[Lavacca] confronted the dog walker by telling him to mind his own business while pointing a chrome semiautomatic handgun at the dog walker’s head,” Keegan said in a press release.
Officers with the Port Angeles Police Department performed a K-9 track in the area, while State Patrol troopers helped deputies set up containment, Keegan said.
“People should be on the lookout,” Keegan said.
Anyone who sees Lavacca should call 9-1-1 or the Sheriff’s Office business line, 360-417-2459, Keegan said.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@ peninsuladailynews.com.
