As of Dec. 28, law enforcement is asking any residents or anyone passing through the area of Old Gardiner Road, near the bridge, to report anything that seems suspicious, as they attempt to locate a suspect of multiple crimes, who’s fled across both Clallam and Jefferson counties.

According to public statements issued by the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, its deputies were dispatched on Dec. 23 to respond to a report of an assault in Sequim, and as a result of their investigation, they issued probable cause for the arrest of 40-year-old Sequim resident David R. Burgess for assault in the second degree, due to domestic violence, and for felony harassment, including threats to kill.

Although Clallam County Sheriff’s Deputies were unable to locate Burgess at that time, after he’d fled the scene, a subsequent report of an arson in Sequim on Dec. 27 led them to receive witness statements that Burgess had set that house on fire, while it was occupied, along with setting fire to a vehicle outside the residence, before he fled again, into the woods.

The occupant of the house escaped the residence unharmed, but first responders found the house fully engulfed in flames.

The Clallam County and Jefferson County sheriffs’ offices have jointly attempted to apprehend Burgess, utilizing K-9 trackers and heat-sensing drone technology, but they couldn’t locate him.

Burgess was last seen heading southbound on Palo Alto Road, fleeing from deputies in a stolen Mazda6, at approximately 6 a.m. on Dec. 28, but by 8:15 a.m. the same day, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office received confirmation that the stolen vehicle had been found, abandoned and missing a tire, and that it had been identified as the vehicle stolen by Burgess by matching its license plate numbers, according to Jefferson County Detective Sgt. Brett Anglin.

“Pursuing deputies had lost sight of him on the backroads,” Anglin told The Leader. “We believe he fled on foot.”

Anglin announced that deputies would be in the area, and asked the public to report not only anything suspicious, but also any sightings or other information they might have regarding Burgess’ whereabouts, by calling 911.

According to both sheriffs’ offices, probable cause exists to arrest Burgess for not only assault in the second degree and felony harassment, but also arson in the first degree.