An anonymous tip from someone who claimed to be fed up with thievery on the Coyle Peninsula led to the arrest of a Quilcene man for alleged possession of a stolen vehicle.
Paul Matthew …
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An anonymous tip from someone who claimed to be fed up with thievery on the Coyle Peninsula led to the arrest of a Quilcene man for alleged possession of a stolen vehicle.
Paul Matthew Tornensis, 44, was arrested late last week and booked into the county jail Thursday on the felony allegation.
According to court documents, a detective with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office was contacted June 22 by someone concerned about crime on the Coyle Peninsula and wanted it “to get cleaned up.”
The detective was told that Tornensis had possession of a stolen off-road vehicle that was likely worth $30,000, according to court papers. The person said the rig had probably been stolen in Kitsap County but was at Tornensis’ house.
The detective visited Tornensis’ home and saw a 2019 Can Am Maverick X3 in the main driveway of the residence.
The officer knocked on the door, and when Tornensis answered, the detective said why he was there.
Tornensis said something along the lines of “Someone’s out to get me” and said he wanted to talk to his lawyer.
The vehicle number on the Maverick was checked, and the off-roader was discovered as having been reported stolen out of Snohomish County.
Upon examination, the detective noticed that parts of the vehicle had been spray painted, which the detective noted in his report was “indicative of other stolen vehicles found during my career.”
“I know from training and experience that people who steal or possess stolen vehicles often alter the appearance in an attempt to conceal the identity of the machine,” the detective added. “Subjects involved in such acts are also not concerned about the devaluation of the machine as they typically have little invested in it to begin with.”
The detective also spoke with Tornensis’ mother, who told police that he had told her that someone let him borrow the vehicle, according to court documents.
Tornensis made his first appearance in Jefferson County Superior Court on
June 23.
His arraignment was set for June 30.
Conviction of possession of a stolen vehicle can result in a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
