A warrant has been issued for a 45-year-old Port Orchard man accused of first-degree robbery and unlawful imprisonment.

The man tried to steal a bottle of tequila from Pacific Liquor in Bremerton Dec. 5, 2022 at about 9:20 a.m., probable cause papers say. A woman who worked there confronted him, he pushed her, and she screamed for help. He put her in a choke hold, started to drag her, and put his other hand over her nose and mouth.

She escaped and called 911 as he fled. Bremerton police got a good look at the suspect through surveillance cameras. On Dec. 13 he was found passed out in a vehicle. But by the time police knew it was him he was gone.

He had been living with his dad, but when police went there they were told he had not been seen for a while. The dad’s wife called and said the son was being taken to a doctor’s appointment. But when police went there they found that was not true.

When they called the dad’s wife, she said she didn’t know where the suspect was anymore, but that he may have switched vehicles a few times. She later called police and said the suspect was headed to Silverdale.

In Kitsap Superior Court Dec. 27 a warrant was issued with bail set at $75,000. If arrested and convicted, he faces life in prison and/or a $50,000 fine.