SEQUIM – A fourth person has been arrested in the case of last week’s home invasion incident in Sequim. In that report, three masked men held residents at gunpoint, demanding payment for a previous drug deal. Those three suspects were arrested that Thursday morning as they tried to leave the property.

On Wednesday, April 3, we learned from the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office that their investigators, with the assistance of OPNET, arrested the man they believe was the ringleader in that attempted robbery.

Detectives learned that 37-year-old Cory Blake of Port Hadlock directed the three suspects to commit the robbery on his behalf to satisfy an unpaid debt. Criminal charges were filed in Clallam County Superior Court and an arrest warrant was issued to arrest Blake.

On Tuesday, April 2, OPNET and Clallam County deputies located Blake at an apartment in Kent. With the assistance of Kent Police Department, Blake was arrested and booked into Clallam County Jail for Burglary 1st Degree and Robbery 1st Degree, both charges include two firearm enhancements.

OUR ORIGINAL STORY FROM FRIDAY, MARCH 29

SEQUIM – Three masked, gun toting home invaders were arrested in the Sequim area Thursday morning, March 28.

At about 5:15am, Clallam County Sheriff’s Deputies and Sequim Police Officers responded to a report of a home invasion robbery in the area of Riverside Road in Sequim.

The caller said people wearing face masks showed up in a white SUV at his house with guns. He said he was in the main house, but the suspects were in the unattached mother-in-law where they had three victims held at gunpoint.

Sheriff’s officials say the suspects ordered the victims to empty their pockets and give them their belongings, which included their phones and car keys.

The suspects attempted to flee in their vehicle but were stopped by law enforcement and detained. The suspects were identified as 32-year-old Esco Rhode of Kent, 44-year-old Eloy Estrada-Morales of Tacoma, and 40-year-old Maryah Faletego of Tacoma.

The initial investigation suggests the crime was a result of drug trafficking. A search warrant was obtained for the suspect’s vehicle, where officers found two handguns, the keys stolen from one of the victims, and a cell phone stolen from one of the victims.

All three suspects were arrested and booked into jail for Robbery, Burglary and Theft.