PORT ANGELES — A 19-year-old Sequim-area man was arrested last week on investigation of first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary for allegedly breaking into a greenhouse where medical marijuana was being grown.
Robert Anthony Aldrich is being held in the Clallam County jail on $10,000 bail.
Aldrich was arrested at his residence north of the city Wednesday after Sequim police matched his vision prescription with a pair of eyeglasses found near the Sequim greenhouse, court papers stated.
According to the arrest narrative, a man phoned city police Sept. 28 saying a motion alarm that protects the greenhouse in the backyard of his residence on the 400 block of North Fourth Street had been activated.
The caller armed himself with a pistol and confronted a man later identified as Evan Hemple-Keele and ordered him to halt, court papers said.
Caller attacked
As the caller followed Hemple-Keele around the greenhouse, he was allegedly jumped by another man later identified as Aldrich.
Police said Aldrich pressed a metal object to the back of the caller’s head and said, “How did you know we were in here?” and “I have a gun.”
During the ensuing struggle, the victim forced the perpetrator’s Daisy air gun to the ground and secured his own pistol before the perpetrator fled.
The caller suffered minor injuries to his hand and bruised ribs, police said.
Sequim police identified Aldrich as the suspect after interviewing Hemple-Keele’s grandparents — who said their grandson had recently been “spending a lot of time” with a Sequim High School senior named Robert, according to the police report — and having the eyeglasses’ prescription tested by an optometrist at Sequim Vision Clinic.
The Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s office will consider filing formal charges Monday.
Further information on Hemple-Keele and his alleged involvement was not immediately available.
