PORT TOWNSEND — Shortly after a failed Wednesday morning heist, a would-be burglar returned to the scene of the crime in handcuffs, Port Townsend police said.
On Wednesday afternoon, James Allen Sarytchoff, 26, of Port Townsend was arraigned on a second degree burglary charge at the same place he allegedly broke into earlier in the day — the Jefferson County Courthouse.
When questioned by police, Sarytchoff said he was not the perpetrator, but the hero.
“James told me he was drinking at the town tavern downtown, and there was someone there saying they were going to break into the courthouse,” Officer Luke Bogues said in a police report.
“James said the people at the bar, an unknown male and female, had relayed to him that they planned to destroy court documents, and he felt it was his duty to protect the town.”
Prosecutors didn’t agree that Sarytchoff, who has a criminal record, had the best interest of the town in mind, and charged him with a class B felony for the attempted burglary.
If he is convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
The attempted burglary was foiled thanks to county workers making a routine check of the courthouse, said Port Townsend Police Sgt. Ed Green.
Detained by staff
“When officers arrived, he had already been detained by workers at the courthouse,” Green said.
“Apparently, they caught him trying to pry his way out of the front doors.”
Green said that an intoxicated Sarytchoff had broken into the courthouse just after midnight on Wednesday morning by prying open the mechanical, sliding doors at the main entrance.
County employees Jon Cooke and Pam Crone-Wenzloff called police after watching Sarytchoff trying to pry his way back out of the building.
When approached by the two county employees, Sarytchoff told them he was a maintenance worker.
Crone-Wenzloff asked for his identification and delayed him until police arrived.
Police said Sarytchoff’s target was a safe sitting outside the treasurer’s office.
“It’s empty,” said County Treasurer Judi Morris.
“It’s empty because we don’t keep anything in it.”
The safe is an antique that sits in the hallway for decoration, Morris said.
“It doesn’t even lock. The mechanism is broken,” she said, laughing.
“The only thing in there is the parts to the broken lock.”
Sarytchoff remained in the county jail on Wednesday night in lieu of $10,000 bail.
County Administrator Philip Morley said the reason Sarytchoff was able to enter the building so easily was because the mechanical lock on that sliding doors had malfunctioned.
“We’re installing some additional locks on the front door until we can get the problem fixed,” Morley said.
“Right now, if people try to pry open the front doors, it won’t happen.”
Sarytchoff has a history of drinking and breaking into buildings.
In 2007, he was found guilty of second-degree burglary after breaking into and vandalizing commercial offices in Port Townsend.
In that incident, Sarytchoff broke windows, destroyed electronic equipment and sprayed fire extinguishers throughout the Madrona Building at the corner of Upper Sims Way and Howard Street.
Police found him inside the building, covered in blood and dry chemical powder.
Police reports say that Sarytchoff was intoxicated in that incident as well.
If found guilty of the courthouse break-in, his previous offense will be taken into consideration during sentencing.
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
