PORT ANGELES — Two men accused of robbing, tying up and pistol-whipping a man at Aircrest Motel earlier this week have been charged in Clallam County Superior Court.
Joseph Edward Elliott, 22, was charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree assault with a deadly weapon and was assigned $100,000 bond.
Charles Laurence Pitchford, 22, was charged with robbery in the first degree and assigned a bond of $50,000.
Both men, who are listed as homeless, appeared in court Wednesday afternoon.
Both remained in the Clallam County jail Thursday.
A guest at the Aircrest Motel reported being attacked by suspects matching the descriptions of Pitchford and Elliott at about 5 p.m. Tuesday.
He told police he had been robbed at gunpoint by two men and bound with tape, Port Angeles Officer Andrew Neisinger said in a police report.
At one point, the guest told police, he attempted to escape the room and was “repeatedly pistol-whipped in the head” with a .45-caliber pistol by a man matching Elliott’s description, Neisinger said.
Men fled
The men fled south on foot from the Aircrest Motel.
The man who reported the robbery had head lacerations but refused medical treatment, Port Angeles Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith said.
Port Angeles police, Clallam County sheriff’s deputies, Border Patrol agents and State Patrol troopers established a containment area around Fifth and Race streets at about 5:15 p.m.
Jag, a Port Angeles police dog, and Cpl. Kevin Miller tracked the two men’s scent from the hotel to the apartment complex.
A series of witnesses told police they had seen the two suspects running south on East First Street, and tenants helped investigators locate the men in one of the apartments.
An occupant gave sheriff’s detectives permission to enter and search for the men.
Police obtained a warrant and found physical evidence in the apartment.
No weapon was recovered.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
