Olympia burglary suspect taken into custody after five-hour search

A burglary suspect was finally taken into custody by Olympia police about 9:30 a.m. Sunday after a search for the man started about five hours earlier, an Olympia police lieutenant said.

About 4:40 a.m. Sunday, a burglar alarm was triggered in a state office building in downtown Olympia known as the Cherry Street Plaza, 626 Eighth Ave. SE. The alarm company notified the building’s security personnel, who then notified police, Lt. Paul Lower said.

A check of building video showed a masked man, wearing dark clothes and gloves, entering a secured parking garage, he said.

Lacey police, Tumwater police and the Washington State Patrol set up a perimeter around the building and then the search began.

Lower said the search took so long because they had to check and clear each floor before moving on to the next one. They also checked all three floors of the garage, he said. On the third floor of the garage, police found a stack of computers and other property, presumably about to be stolen, Lower said.

Olympia police K-9 Melnic also assisted in the search.

Eventually, the 29-year-old suspect ran out of real estate and was found on the roof of the building, hiding in a service room used to control the building’s air conditioning, Lower said.

The man was arrested on second-degree burglary charges. He also had an outstanding warrant for failure to comply with the state Department of Corrections, he said.

This story was originally published January 31, 2016 at 5:21 PM with the headline "Olympia burglary suspect taken into custody after five-hour search."