FORKS — A Forks man wanted on investigation of first-degree robbery has been arrested a day after detectives attempted to locate him.
Frederick Crawford, 31, was taken into custody Wednesday after the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office received a tip that he had returned to a residence in the 200 block of Shuwah Road in Forks.
Sheriff’s deputies collaborated with the Forks Police Department and La Push police officers to surround the residence and call Crawford outside, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Crawford was taken into custody without incident and transferred to the Clallam County Jail, the agency added.
The Peninsula Crisis Response Team and the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team (OPNET) attempted to serve an arrest warrant on Crawford on Tuesday night in the same location after OPNET detectives used drone technology to observe Crawford on the property, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Detectives previously received a tip that Crawford was staying at a residence in the area.
Crawford was wanted in connection with an incident that occurred about 7:41 p.m. Oct. 30, when deputies responded to a report of malicious mischief near Lake Pleasant Community Park Loop in Beaver.
A 38-year-old Forks man reported being blocked in by a silver Toyota 4-Runner while attempting to leave the park, the Sheriff’s Office said. Two passengers, an adult male and an adult female, also were in the vehicle, the agency reported.
The 38-year-old man said he had been target shooting near the Sitkum-Solduc Road earlier in the evening when a silver 4-Runner approached and flashed its headlights, the Sheriff’s Office said. When they arrived at Lake Pleasant Community Park, the same 4-Runner pulled in front of them and blocked their exit.
A man, later identified as Crawford, got out of the passenger side of the 4-Runner while an adult female drove away in the vehicle, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Crawford allegedly approached the 38-year-old Forks man’s driver-side door, briefly opened and closed it, then opened the rear driver-side door, grabbed a .22-caliber rifle that belonged to the victim and pointed it at him, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Crawford allegedly shattered the driver’s side window with the barrel of the rifle while making verbal threats, the agency added.
The victim fled toward West Lake Pleasant Road and called 911.
A criminal history check revealed that Crawford has prior felony convictions for two counts of third-degree assault and second-degree malicious mischief, which prohibit him for possessing firearms, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Crawford also is known to have a history of assaultive behavior toward law enforcement and was believed to be armed with the stolen firearm, the agency added.
Deputies developed probable cause to arrest Crawford on investigation of first-degree robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm, second-degree malicious mischief and aiming or discharging a firearm, the Sheriff’s Office said.
