By ARWYN RICE
Peninsula Daily News
PORT ANGELES — The third member of a trio of young men thought responsible for a home-invasion robbery and an attempt at a similar robbery in Port Angeles was arrested in Poulsbo this week and was in custody in the Clallam County jail on Thursday.
Benjamin Myles Wetzler, 19, was arrested by Poulsbo police officers late Wednesday.
The officers stopped him after checking his license plate and finding an arrest warrant issued by Clallam County in connection with the two home invasions July 7 and 8.
Wetzler was being held on $750,000 bail after he was transferred from the Kitsap County jail for investigation of two counts of burglary in the first degree, two counts of robbery in the first degree, unlawful imprisonment and first-degree trafficking in stolen property, according to the Clallam County jail roster.
First of three
On July 7, a couple in Gales Addition told deputies they were awakened by a knock on their back door at about 1:25 a.m.
The man opened the door and was confronted by a man pointing a gun at his head.
Three men disguised in black clothing took jewelry, coins and four guns, and threw water on the woman.
On July 8, a resident on South Barr Road — later identified as Louie Rychlik, 70 — reported an attempted robbery at his home that ended when he shot through his back door at one of the men.
He said the two men who were at his door fled in different directions.
William S. Moore Jr., 19, and Travis L. Turner, 23, were charged in July and pleaded not guilty to several charges in connection with the robbery and attempted robbery.
Detectives said Turner and Moore confessed in recorded statements and implicated Wetzler.
Moore, a homeless man, is being held on $25,000 bond in the Clallam County jail on charges of one count of burglary in the first degree, one count of residential burglary, two counts of robbery in the first degree, theft of a firearm, unlawful imprisonment and second-degree trafficking in stolen property.
He is scheduled for an Oct. 22 predisposition hearing at the Clallam County Courthouse.
Turner, a Port Angeles resident, is being held on $250,000 bond on charges of one count of burglary in the first degree, two counts of robbery in the first degree, theft of a firearm, unlawful imprisonment and second-degree trafficking in stolen property.
His trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 13 at the Clallam County Courthouse.
— The Peninsula Daily News and the North Kitsap Herald are published by Sound Publishing Co.
