Bainbridge’s two ‘most wanted’ arrested in Jefferson County forest

Published 2:06 pm Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Two of Bainbridge Island’s “most wanted” have been arrested in Jefferson County.

Ericka Nitz, 24, and Kristopher Thurston Nickerson, 31, were identified by Bainbridge police in mid-September as suspects involved in a recent car prowl where credit cards were stolen.

The pair were taken into custody by deputies with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office who were investigating a report of trespassers Tuesday, Sept. 30 on Tarboo Lake Road in Quilcene, according to a report by the Peninsula Daily News.

The deputies discovered a cache of property reported stolen in Kitsap County, the newspaper reported.

“I think they have been operating for a while around Port Townsend and Jefferson County,” Jefferson County Sheriff Joe Nole told the Peninsula Daily News. “There’s no telling how many other thefts they would have committed if we hadn’t caught them today.”

Nickerson, 32, and Nitz, 25, remain in custody in the Jefferson County jail. No bail has been set for their release.

Nickerson was taken into custody for investigation of resisting arrest, theft of a motor vehicle, criminal impersonation, criminal trespassing and a probation/supervision violation, Nole told the Peninsula Daily News, while Nitz was arrested for investigation of possessing a controlled substance and vehicle theft.

Nole also said the charges will be amended as the recovered material is cataloged, which includes two motor vehicles and several iPads, iPods and cellphones.

The two were reportedly found on a spur off Tarboo Lake Road after security guards employed by Pacific Mountain Products found an illegal encampment on land owned by Pope Resources.

When deputies arrived, Nickerson began running and was captured in a chase while Nitz was taken into custody without incident, Nole told the Peninsula Daily News.

On-site was a trailer that was reported stolen from an RV lot in Silverdale and a Toyota Tacoma truck that was reported stolen in Port Orchard.

Bainbridge Island police held a media availability last month to announce that Nitz and Nickerson were wanted by local authorities. The Seattle television station Q13 came to Bainbridge to film a segment on Nitz and Nickerson for “Washington’s Most Wanted” program on Sept. 16.

The pair have been sought by Bainbridge police for their alleged involvement in vehicle prowl on Sept. 13 while it was parked at the boat launch on Fort Ward Hill Road.

The car was locked, but the prowlers were able to enter the car by a window that was rolled down enough to unlock the door. The purse of the car’s owner was discovered missing, and credit cards from the purse were used at the Town & Country Market and an island gas station the same day as the car prowl.

Nitz is also wanted by Bainbridge police for theft and vehicle prowling.

Both currently have no-bail felony warrants for their arrest by the Department of Corrections.