SEQUIM — Kenneth Scott “Tiny” Johnson remained at large Thursday after a Clallam County Sheriff’s Office manhunt was called off in the woods south of Sequim.
Johnson, 35, is being sought on a probable-cause warrant for failure to register as a sex offender.
He is considered a high-risk sex offender with past convictions of first-degree child molestation and third-degree rape of a child.
The Sheriff’s Office issued a neighborhood watch alert at 10:50 a.m. Thursday after a deputy spotted Johnson walking in the 800 block of Youngquist Road. near Palo Alto Road.
Johnson ran into the woods west of Youngquist Road and eluded deputies, Port Angeles police, Sequim police and the U.S. Border Patrol.
The manhunt was called off at about 12:45 p.m.
A K-9 unit was unable to track Johnson through damp underbrush, county Undersheriff Ron Peregrin said.
“We know he’s in the area,” he added.
“We’re going to continue looking for him, obviously.”
In addition to the probable-cause warrant, Johnson has six outstanding arrest warrants, with bail totaling $9,000, Chief Criminal Deputy Ron Cameron has said.
Peregrin said Johnson is running out of options.
“When people stay on the run like that, they start using up the good graces of their friends,” Peregrin said.
“If they know he’s on the run, they could be charged with harboring a fugitive.”
Johnson is described as a 6-foot-3-inch, 240-pound white male with brown hair and brown eyes.
Peregrin encourages area residents to remain vigilant and to phone dispatch at either 9-1-1 or the non-emergency number of 360-417-2459 if they have knowledge of Johnson’s whereabouts.
Authorities have gotten help in their search for Johnson from “Washington’s Most Wanted”
The TV show, hosted by David Rose on KCPQ channel 13 of Seattle, recently focused on Johnson and offered a cash reward of up to $1,000, depending on whether he has a weapon or drugs on him and charges when found.
The show’s narration:
“Kenneth ‘Tiny’ Johnson is a Level 3 sex offender — the worst of the worst — who has gone off the grid in Clallam County.
“He’s a convicted child rapist who’s also been busted for child molestation, assault, domestic violence, giving drugs to a minor and a gun crime.
“Failing to register as a sex offender is one of the five warrants he has out for his arrest right now.
“If you know where he’s hiding, call an anonymous tip into Crime Stoppers: 800-222-TIPS [8477].
“You must call the Crime Stoppers hot line with your tip to be eligible to receive a cash reward for information leading to a fugitive’s arrest.”
“Washington’s Most Wanted,” which Rose said has led to the capture of more than 570 fugitives since 2008, gets requests for help from local police and sheriff’s departments.
In addition to being broadcast on KCPQ channel 13 on Friday and Saturday nights at 10:30 p.m., “Washington’s Most Wanted” has a high-traffic website filled with photos of wanted fugitives, www.catchwmw.com.
The show has also spotlighted the hunt for another Clallam County man, Ari King.
King is a person of interest in the death of 65-year-old Diane Cunningham, who was found dead in the Salt Creek RV Park in Joyce on Oct. 6.
__________
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
