||| FROM RON KREBS, SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF |||
On Thursday, September 29, 2022 at approximately 8:30 pm Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a residence on Harborview Lane of Orcas Island for a report of burglary in progress. The deputy arrived and confronted a white male exiting the garage, later identified as Matthew Huffstodt of Orcas Island.
Huffstodt brandished a knife he had on his person and then began walking away. A foot pursuit ensued where Huffstodt ran into the woods. The deputy stopped pursuing the suspect and set up a perimeter while other Orcas Island deputies responded to the area. After an exhaustive search of the area, the search was called off.
The Sheriff’s Office is asking for the help locating Huffstodt. If you see him or know where he is located, please call the Sheriff’s Office at 360-378-4151 or call 911.
So let me get this straight – an ARMED deputy responding to a crime in progress “confronted” the criminal who then pulled a knife and WALKED away. And the deputy did not pursue because a one man “perimeter” needed to be set up? And then the whole crew couldn’t find the guy, because apparently an “exhaustive” search isn’t actually very thorough… He’s six and a half feet tall with red hair, you think he might stand out in a crowd? What exactly ARE we paying the Sheriff’s department for? This level of incompetence is not just embarrassing, it’s dangerous. There seems to be plenty of time to put out a vast number of election signs but not enough to train deputies how to do their job. I assure you that I will be voting for a change in leadership this Fall.