SEQUIM — A Lost Mountain Road homeowner chased down and sat on a suspected burglar Sunday afternoon until authorities arrived, leading to three arrests.
John R. Hopperstad and Nancy F. Birkland of Sequim and Anthony C. Eacrett of Port Angeles were arrested Sunday afternoon for investigation of residential burglary and second-degree theft and booked into the Clallam County jail.
Bail of $20,000 was set Monday for Hopperstad, 50, and Eacrett, 51.
Birkland, 41, was released on her own recognizance.
Filing of criminal information was set for 1 p.m. Wednesday in Superior Court.
The incident in the 2900 block of Lost Mountain Road was reported 12:04 p.m. Sunday after a couple who owns the home returned to find Birkland sitting in a vehicle in their driveway, Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Amy Bundy said in a press release.
Birkland said she was looking for a dog before the husband saw the front door of the house open, prompting his wife to call 9-1-1, Bundy said.
Birkland drove away but moments later fled on foot. She abandoned a Nissan Maxima at the end of the driveway with the engine running, Bundy said.
The husband went inside the house and confronted Hopperstad who was standing in the dining room holding the man’s iPad, the husband said, according to a probable cause statement.
Hopperstad dropped the iPad, ran out the back door and ran down the gravel driveway, according to the statement.
The homeowner chased and tackled him, Bundy said Monday in an email.
“The homeowner then sat on top of the burglar until law enforcement arrived,” Bundy said.
The vehicle that Birkland had left running was registered to Eacrett.
Eacrett was arrested walking on Lost Mountain Road a few miles from the home.
Birkland was arrested about a half-mile from the home.
Bundy said a cellphone and an $800 Apple watch from the home were recovered on the ground outside the home.
A pillowcase from the bedroom was discovered outside the house that was full of jewelry and other items from the couple’s home, Bundy said in the email.
“It appears all items that were in the process of being stolen have been recovered,” Bundy said.
Hopperstad told authorities they had checked other houses to burglarize before choosing the home, according to his probable cause statement.
The woman told authorities she was told by Eacrett that they were going to the home to get Eacrett’s dog, according to the statement.
________
Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
