PORT TOWNSEND — A 37-year-old transient charged with two counts of residential burglary who police say is a suspect in three others made his first court appearance Tuesday.
Rusty Ray Fisher appeared on video monitors inside Jefferson County Superior Court, at which time Judge Keith Harper granted a prosecution request to impose a $25,000 bail.
As of Tuesday evening, Fisher remained in custody at the Jefferson County jail in Port Hadlock.
Fisher is currently charged with two counts of residential burglary and one count of malicious mischief.
His court-appointed attorney is Richard Davies of Jefferson Associated Counsel.
Port Townsend police arrested Fisher following two burglaries.
At 8:23 Friday evening, police say a juvenile witness in the Castle Hill neighborhood reported that someone had cut the screen in his house and attempted to gain entry to his room.
When the intruder saw the witness, he fled, according to police.
A few minutes later, a similar call came in with a witness stating that someone had put his hand into a window at her house. She confronted the man and he ran away.
Both witnesses gave descriptions that fit Fisher, whom police spotted nearby and detained, finding knives and burglary tools on his person, police said.
Both witnesses positively identified Fisher, who was arrested and taken to jail.
Port Townsend police suspected that Fisher was responsible for three restaurant burglaries Thursday night but made no substantial connection until Monday when a stolen laptop was recovered.
Three restaurants were hit by burglaries: Courtyard Cafe, 230 Quincy St.; the Banana Leaf Thai Bistro, 609 Washington St.; and Pippa’s Real Tea, 636 Water St.
The burglar took cash from all three locations along with a laptop and an iPad from Pippa’s.
On Monday morning, a member of the transient community called business owner Pippa Mills to return the laptop and claim a $100 reward.
Police said the man eventually said he took the laptop from Fisher, who was then in custody.
On Monday, Port Townsend Police Detective Luke Bogues said he planned to recommend charges against Fisher for the restaurant burglaries, but such charges were not part of Tuesday’s court appearance.
Bogues was not available for comment Tuesday.
Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Haas said new charges could be added in time for Fisher’s next court appearance, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Friday in Superior Court, 1820 Washington St.
The current burglary charges each carry a possible sentence of up to five years in jail and a $10,000 fine, and the mischief charge carries up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
