Recovery of stolen tools prompts felony charge

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A Port Townsend man is facing a felony charge of second-degree possession of stolen property after authorities said he posted photos on social media that showed a collection of power tools that had been stolen in December 2021.

Port Townsend police have been investigating the theft of more than $4,700 of cordless DeWalt power tools since December 2021 from a local business.

The owner of a Port Hadlock roofing company told police that someone had cut the lock of a cargo trailer that was parked on Polk Street in Port Townsend, but despite several leads, the stolen tools could not be found.

That changed in early 2022, when police received a tip that Evan Robert Starkey, 33, had posted pictures of the stolen tools and other items. 

Authorities also claimed that Starkey had said the trailer where the tools had been stolen was half full, and another trailer had been untouched, and Starkey “was also talking about going back,” according to court documents.

When confronted by Port Townsend officers, Starkey allegedly denied any involvement and said he didn’t have the tools.

He eventually told officers he did, according to a police report.

Starkey also said he had gotten the tools from another man, who had gotten them from someone else, according to court documents.

Police obtained a search warrant for Starkey’s home, and he led them to his bedroom and a spare bedroom, where officers found a stolen angle grinder, circular saw, and other items.

Other stolen tools were found in a workshop room near the kitchen, an outside storage room, and elsewhere on the San Juan Avenue property.

During the search of the home, police allegedly found drug paraphernalia that indicated heroin use.

Recovered stolen items included a chopsaw, power drills, power staple guns, a jig saw, roofing gun, and toolbox filled with hand tools.

Prosecutors submitted information on the felony charge in Jefferson County Superior Court on April 10.

Conviction of second-degree possession of stolen property can result in a maximum prison sentence of five years and a $10,000 fine.