PORT ANGELES — A 72-year-old Port Angeles man has been arrested for investigation of second-degree rape, unlawful imprisonment and unlawful possession of a firearm after two women and a girl reported separate incidents of an attempt and actually being lured into his truck, police said.
Curt Ellie Croston will be formally charged at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Clallam County Superior Court.
Two of the females were victims of suspected sexual assaults when they were inside a Ford pickup truck Croston was driving, Port Angeles Detective Sgt. Tyler Peninger said.
A 19-year-old woman reported in January that she accepted a ride from Croston, who allegedly drove from the 600 block of East First Street to an empty parking lot and raped the woman, according to the arrest narrative.
A 24-year-old woman reported in February that Croston attempted to lure her into his truck on the 400 block of Lincoln Street, but she refused.
The woman told police she spotted Croston at a March 1 church service, got his name from the congregation leader and wrote down the license plate number of his Ford Ranger, court papers said.
Abduction alleged
A 17-year-old girl reported in March that she was abducted on the 400 block of East First Street by a man matching Croston’s description.
The girl told police she was sexually assaulted in the truck before she managed to escape through a rear window when the man had stopped for traffic.
Police found firearms at Croston’s Alderwood Circle residence when serving a search warrant Thursday, court papers said.
Croston, who has a 1987 conviction of second-degree assault, is not allowed to possess firearms, Peninger said.
Clallam County Superior Court Judge Christopher Melly set Croston’s bail at $50,000 Friday.
The investigation is ongoing, police said.
Anyone who has had contacts with Croston that might relate to his alleged crimes or unreported crimes is asked to phone Peninger at 360-417-4957, Port Angeles Detective Cpl. Kori Malone at 360-417-4941 or Detective Shane Martin at 360-417-4953.
