Port Angeles man held on bail in three felonies

PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles man was being held Tuesday on $5,000 bail in the Clallam County jail for investigation of three felonies after a foot chase in eastern Port Angeles on Monday.

Anthony Joshua Freitas, 23, was arrested for investigation of second-degree burglary, a Class B felony, and two Class C felonies: possession of a controlled substance and criminal impersonation.

He is scheduled to be charged at 3 p.m. Thursday.

Freitas was taken into custody by law enforcement officers Monday after PenCom emergency dispatchers received a call reporting a theft from the Fresh Wok restaurant, 1603 E. Front St., in which the owner of the restaurant chased a man from the business, and another call about employees renovating the former Chinook Motel holding a man they thought to be a suspect in a robbery.

Freitas reportedly was chased by the owner of the restaurant toward the historic motel and was briefly held by Balbir Singh, owner of the newly renamed Holiday Lodge, then was caught by police a few minutes later hiding between the wheels of an antique tractor parked at 1404 E. Front St., said Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith.

All of the cash taken from the Fresh Wok was recovered, Smith said Tuesday, but he did know the amount taken.

The money was taken from a cash register till, and Smith said he did not believe it was a large sum.

Freitas initially gave police a false name and age, claiming to be “Jonnie Dan” Freitas, age 25, but police were able to establish his identity as Anthony Joshua Freitas, two years younger, at the police station, Smith said.

More charges may be pending, authorities said.

Police also were investigating Freitas’ possible involvement in similar crimes that have taken place in the area, Smith said.

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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.

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