SEQUIM — Sequim Police have arrested a 47-year-old man for allegedly stealing a truck and breaking into a church outbuilding Monday, Jan. 14.
William McKinley Gilbertson, 47, a former Sequim resident, was booked into Clallam County jail that night and later was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, burglary in the second-degree, possession of burglary tools and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, said Sgt. John Southard.
Gilbertson remained in the Clallam County jail Wednesday on $500 bond. His arraignment is set for Friday.
While on patrol, Sequim Officer Randy Kellas said he discovered a stolen Ford F-150 parked on the grass of the Sequim Worship Center, 640 N. Sequim Ave., at about 10:50 p.m. Jan. 14.
Kellas reported that because the truck’s hood was still warm, he looked inside the outbuilding and discovered Gilbertson.
Gilbertson allegedly had drug paraphernalia near him — including a glass smoking pipe and foil with burnt drug residue — Kellas’ report said.
While being put in custody, Gilbertson asked for his medications in the cab of the stolen truck, which Kellas said in his report had Gilbertson’s name on the prescription bottles.
Upon further investigating, the truck had camping equipment from the outbuilding inside it and a crowbar hanging from the side of the truck, Kellas said.
Southard said the truck was stolen from the 200 block of South Sequim Avenue and returned to its owner despite the ignition being destroyed during the theft.
“This was a good example of police work,” Southard said. “[Kellas] was on patrol and found the subject inside.”
Sequim Police report Gilbertson has a history of burglary and theft cases, including in 2015 when he was booked into jail for eluding police, stealing a vehicle and driving with a suspended license.
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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him at mnash@sequimgazette.com.
